Association between body composition, sarcopenia and pulmonary function in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

• Published in: BMC pulmonary medicine Vol. 22; no. 1; p. 106
• Main Authors: Martínez-Luna, Nathalie, Orea-Tejeda, Arturo, González-Islas, Dulce, Flores-Cisneros, Laura, Keirns-Davis, Candace, Sánchez-Santillán, Rocío, Pérez-García, Ilse, Gastelum-Ayala, Yael, Martínez-Vázquez, Valeria, Martínez-Reyna, Óscar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 26.03.2022; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Age; Asthma; Body composition; Body mass index; Bronchodilators; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Complications and side effects; Diagnosis; Exercise; Fat-free body mass; Health aspects; HIV; Human immunodeficiency virus; Lung diseases; Lung diseases, Obstructive; Malnutrition; Mortality; Muscle strength; Muscles; Musculoskeletal system; Obstructive lung disease; Physical fitness; Protein synthesis; Proteins; Pulmonary function; Pulmonary function tests; Pulmonology; Regression analysis; Respiratory function; Risk factors; Sarcopenia; Skeletal muscle; Skeletal muscle mass; Spirometry; Variables; Mexico; Sarcopenia; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Pulmonary function; Skeletal muscle mass; Body composition
• ISSN: 1471-2466; 1471-2466
• DOI: 10.1186/s12890-022-01907-1

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is characterized by progressive and irreversible airflow limitation. Different factors that modify pulmonary function include age, sex, muscular strength, and a history of exposure to toxic agents. However, the impact of body composition compartments and sarcopenia on pulmonary function is not well-established. This study aimed to evaluate how body composition compartments and sarcopenia affect pulmonary function in COPD patients. In a cross-sectional study, patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COPD, > 40 years old, and forced expiratory volume in the first second /forced vital capacity ratio (FEV /FVC) < 0.70 post-bronchodilator were included. Patients with cancer, HIV, and asthma were excluded. Body composition was measured with bioelectrical impedance. Sarcopenia was defined according to EWGSOP2, and pulmonary function was assessed by spirometry. 185 patients were studied. The mean age was 72.20 ± 8.39 years; 55.14% were men. A linear regression adjusted model showed associations between body mass index, fat-free mass, skeletal muscle mass index, appendicular skeletal muscle mass index, and phase angle (PhA), and sarcopenia with FEV (%). As regards FVC (%), PhA and exercise tolerance had positive associations. Body composition, especially PhA, SMMI, ASMMI, and sarcopenia, has a significant impact on pulmonary function. Early detection of disturbances of these indexes enables the early application of such therapeutic strategies in COPD patients.