Influence of lean body mass on cardiopulmonary repercussions during the six-minute walk test in patients with COPD.
OBJECTIVE
Although lean body mass (LBM) has been associated with mortality in patients with COPD, its influence on functional limitation is not clear. The objective of this study was to analyze the cardiopulmonary variables in COPD patients with or without LBM depletion, prior to and after the six-minute walk test (6MWT).


METHODS
We evaluated COPD patients, 32 with LBM depletion and 36 without. All patients underwent clinical evaluation, spirometry, evaluation of body mass composition and 6MWT, as well as completing questionnaires related to quality of life and perception of dyspnea.


RESULTS
No significant differences in the severity of airway obstruction, perception of dyspnea and quality of life scores were found between the groups. The distance covered on the 6MWT was similar in COPD patients with and without LBM depletion (470.3 +/- 68.5 m vs. 448.2 +/- 89.2 m). However, patients with LBM depletion presented significantly greater differences between baseline and final values in terms of heart rate and Borg scale index for lower limb fatigue. There was a significant positive correlation between distance covered on the 6MWT and FEV1 (r = 0.381, p = 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
In the patients studied, functional exercise tolerance and quality of life were unaffected by LBM depletion. However, the patients with LBM depletion presented more pronounced lower limb fatigue during the 6MWT, which underscores the importance of the evaluation and treatment of systemic manifestations in COPD patients.
Pelegrino
Nilva Regina Gelamo
NR
Botucatu School of Medicine, São Paulo State University, Botucatu, Brazil. nilvap@itelefonica.com.br
Lucheta
Paulo Adolfo
PA
Sanchez
Fernanda Figueirôa
FF
Faganello
Márcia Maria
MM
Ferrari
Renata
R
Godoy
Irma de
Id
D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000175:diagnosis; D005080:Exercise Test; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018763:Muscle Fatigue / Q000502:physiology; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D013851:Thinness / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology