title: Age-graded reductions in quadriceps muscle strength and peak aerobic capacity in COPD.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Reductions in quadriceps strength and peak aerobic capacity (VO2) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have been studied in relatively small samples over a short period. Moreover, results were not corrected for confounding variables, such as lean muscle mass, gender, and gas transfer capacity of the lungs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare quadriceps muscle strength and peak V.O2 in women and men while stratifying for age and gas transfer capacity. We then corrected for lower-limb lean muscle mass to see whether and to what extent the age-graded reduction remained evident.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospectively, data of 374 women and 593 men with COPD were analyzed: lung function, current drug therapy, quadriceps strength, peak V.O2, lower-limb lean muscle mass, and gas transfer capacity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Quadriceps strength and peak V.O2 were lower in older women and men with a gas transfer capacity of <50% predicted, also after adjustment for lower-limb lean muscle mass. Moreover, quadriceps strength and peak V.O2 were lower in older women and men with a gas transfer capacity of <50% predicted, also after adjustment for lower-limb lean muscle mass. Moreover, quadriceps strength and peak V.O2 were related to age in COPD, particularly in women and men with a gas transfer capacity of >50% predicted. Yet, counter to our hypothesis, lower-limb lean muscle mass did not show an age-graded reduction and, in turn, could not account for the relationship of age with quadriceps strength and peak V.O2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is apparent that there is an age-graded reduction in skeletal muscle function in patients with COPD. Therefore, prevention of an age-graded decline in quadriceps muscle strength and peak V.O2 may need to become an outcome of pulmonary rehabilitation of patients with COPD.
authors.affiliation: Program Development, CIRO+ Rehabilitation Network, Hornerheide 1, Horn, the Netherlands. martijnspruit@ciro-horn.nl
authors.forename: Martijn A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Spruit
authors.forename: Frits M E
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Franssen
authors.forename: Erica P A
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Rutten
authors.forename: Scott S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Wagers
authors.forename: Emiel F M
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Wouters
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology*; D052097:Quadriceps Muscle / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors