Assessment of Pulmonary Functions and Peripheral Muscle Strength of COPD Patients in Different GOLD Stages

Pulmonary Functions and Peripheral Muscle Strength and Their Relationship With Disease Duration and Prognosis in Patients With Different COPD Stages

The purpose of this research was to examine the respiratory functions, respiratory muscle strength and peripheral muscle strength of patients with COPD in different groups and to evaluate their correlation with the duration and prognosis of the disease in COPD.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common disease characterized by airway obstruction against harmful particles and gases in the airway and lungs, and is progressive, treatable and preventable.

The severity of the disease in COPD is determined according to the GOLD (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease) guidelines (2). While determining the severity of airway obstruction with the patient's spirometric values in COPD; Combined COPD assessment is made with symptomatic evaluation, number of exacerbations and hospitalizations. Airway restriction is numerically (GOLD 1-4), symptom evaluation and exacerbation risk combined with letter grouping (Group A-D).

There is a loss of respiratory and peripheral muscle strength in COPD patients. A mixture of various local and systemic causes was responsible for respiratory muscle dysfunction in COPD. Immobility, systemic inflammation, hypoxia of the tissue, oxidative stress and increased apoptosis of the skeletal muscle have been identified as possible pathogenic factors for loss of peripheral muscle strength in COPD patients.

it was aimed to evaluate the respiratory functions, respiratory muscle strength and peripheral muscle strength of patients with different COPD groups clinically and to evaluate their correlation with the duration and prognosis of the disease.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Being in COPD stable period and over the age of 40,
• The absence of abnormal laboratory findings,
• Not having a mental problem that prevents filling the questionnaires to be used in the study, - The absence of any other respiratory disease such as asthma,
• Giving the informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• COPD exacerbation (hospitalization with acute exacerbation in the last 15 days),
• Presence of cognitive impairment,
• Pregnancy status,
• Ischemic heart disease,
• Kyphoscoliosis and advanced postural disorder,
• Orthopedic problems and amputation surgery,
• Emphysema, bullous lung disease,
• Presence of bronchiectasis,
• Previous thoracic surgery history,
• Presence of lung cancer,
• Advanced heart failure.