Muscle Dysfunction in Smokers and Patients With Mild COPD: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW.

Purpose: To describe and discuss the available evidence in the literature concerning muscle function and the association between smoking and muscle dysfunction in smokers and patients with mild chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: The literature search involved the following databases: PubMed, Pedro, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Lilacs, and EMBASE. Studies were included if they investigated muscle strength and/or endurance and/or cross-sectional area (CSA) in smokers and/or patients with COPD classified as Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) I and without lung cancer.

Analysis of three different equations for predicting quadriceps femoris muscle strength in patients with COPD.

Objective: To compare equations for predicting peak quadriceps femoris (QF) muscle force; to determine the agreement among the equations in identifying QF muscle weakness in COPD patients; and to assess the differences in characteristics among the groups of patients classified as having or not having QF muscle weakness by each equation.

Methods: Fifty-six COPD patients underwent assessment of peak QF muscle force by dynamometry (maximal voluntary isometric contraction of knee extension). Predicted values were calculated with three equations: an age-height-weight-gender equation (Eq-AHWG); an age-weight-gender equation (Eq-AWG); and an age-fat-free mass-gender equation (Eq-AFFMG).