Physical performance and muscular characteristics in different stages of COPD

• Published in: Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports 2009-12, Vol.19 (6), p.865-870
• Main Authors: Eliason, G., Abdel-Halim, S., Arvidsson, B., Kadi, F., Piehl-Aulin, K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living/psychology; Aged; Attitude to Health; Body Composition; Body Image; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; COPD; Dependency (Psychology); Dermatologi och venerologi, klinisk genetik, invärtesmedicin; Dermatology and venerology,clinical genetics, internal medicine; Exercise; Exercise Test; Exercise Tolerance - physiology; Female; Fysiologi; Fysiologi och farmakologi; Health Services Needs and Demand; Humans; Idrott; Idrottsvetenskap; INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH AREAS; Internal medicine; Interpersonal Relations; Invärtesmedicin; Lung diseases; Lungsjukdomar; Male; MEDICIN; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; MEDICINE; Middle Aged; muscle fiber; muscle fiber area; Muscle, Skeletal - physiology; Muscular system; Neoplasms/psychology; Nursing Methodology Research; Palliative Care/methods/psychology; Physical fitness; physical performance; Physiology; Physiology and pharmacology; Power (Psychology); Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - physiopathology; Quality of Life/psychology; Questionnaires; Respite Care/psychology; satellite cells; Self Concept; Severity of Illness Index; Social Support; Sports; Sports Science; Sweden; TVÄRVETENSKAPLIGA FORSKNINGSOMRÅDEN
• ISSN: 0905-7188; 1600-0838; 1600-0838
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2008.00858.x

This study has examined exercise capacity and muscle morphology in patients with different severities of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Twenty‐three patients and 12 healthy matched controls were recruited. Based on the severity of airflow obstruction, patients were divided into two subgroups. Exercise capacity was determined using a 6‐min walk test. Muscle fiber composition, fiber area and number of satellite cells/muscle fiber were determined in muscle biopsies using immunohistochemistry. A progressive decline in exercise capacity was noted with ascending disease severity. Furthermore, a correlation between reduction in exercise capacity and changes in muscle fiber composition was observed in COPD. The group with severe and very severe COPD had a lower proportion of type I and a higher proportion of type IIa fibers compared with the other groups. In severe and very severe COPD, a reduction in fiber area of type IIa fibers was also seen. The number of satellite cells/muscle fiber did not differ between the groups. In conclusion, a decline in exercise capacity occurs already in mild and moderate COPD, indicating that the 6‐min walk test is a reliable indicator of disease severity. Furthermore, changes in skeletal muscle morphology are associated with disease severity while muscle regenerative capacity is not altered.