Maximum Voluntary Ventilation and Its Relationship With Clinical Outcomes in Subjects With COPD.

Background: Previous studies have reported that maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV) may be better associated with commonly used outcomes in COPD than FEV and may provide information on respiratory mechanics. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between MVV and clinical outcomes in COPD and to verify whether MVV predicts these outcomes better than FEV.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving individuals with COPD.

Cluster analysis identifying patients with COPD at high risk of 2-year all-cause mortality.

The objective of the article is to identify clusters of patients with COPD according to factors known to be associated with mortality and to verify whether clusters' assignment is associated with 2-year mortality. Patients ( n = 141) were evaluated by bioelectrical impedance, maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), one-repetition maximum test of the quadriceps femoris (1RMQF) and BODE index (body mass index; airflow obstruction (spirometry); dyspnea (modified Medical Research Council scale); and exercise capacity (6-minute walk test (6MWT) distance). Vital status was retrospectively checked 2 years after the assessments, and time to death was quantified for those deceased in this period.

Difference Between Slow and Forced Vital Capacity and Its Relationship with Dynamic Hyperinflation in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between slow and forced vital capacity (SVC-FVC) difference with dynamic lung hyperinflation (DH) during the 6-min walking test (6MWT) in subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Twenty-four subjects with COPD (12 males; 67 ± 6 years; forced expiratory volume in first second [FEV] 56 ± 18% predicted) performed lung function tests by spirometry and plethysmography. DH was assessed by serial measurements of inspiratory capacity (IC) performed during the 6MWT and defined as ∆IC ≥ 150 mL or 10%.

Oxygen Desaturation in Daily Life and During a Laboratory-Based Protocol of Activities of Daily Living in COPD: Is There Relationship?

Purpose: To analyze the relationship between oxygen desaturation episodes during a laboratory-based ADL protocol and in real-life routine in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: Twenty patients with stable COPD (12 men, 70 ± 7 years, FEV% 54 ± 15 predicted) with no indication for long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) were submitted to assessments including ADL performance by the Londrina ADL Protocol (LAP) and level of physical activity in daily life, both while submitted to simultaneous activity and pulse oximeter monitoring.

Results: Episodes of desaturation ≥ 4% (ED ≥ 4%) during the LAP were correlated both with ED ≥ 4% in daily life (r = 0.

Fat-free mass depletion in patients with COPD in Brazil: development of a new cutoff point and its relation with mortality and extrapulmonary manifestations.

Background/objectives: None of the cutoff points for fat-free mass index (FFMI) were tested for the Brazilian population, and it is unknown whether the available ones are able to discriminate extrapulmonary disease manifestations. This cross-sectional study aims to develop and validate a cutoff point for FFM depletion based on Brazilian patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and to verify its association and of previously published cutoffs with extrapulmonary manifestations.

Subjects/methods: A new cutoff point was obtained from the best FFMI value for discrimination of preserved exercise capacity in a sample of patients (n=57).

Development, Validity and Reliability of the Londrina Activities of Daily Living Protocol for Subjects With COPD.

Background: To avoid symptoms, patients with COPD may reduce the amount of activities of daily living (ADL). Therefore, the aim of the present study was to develop a standardized protocol to evaluate ADL performance in subjects with COPD (Londrina ADL protocol) and to assess the validity and reliability of the protocol in this population.

Methods: The Londrina ADL protocol was created based on activities included in previous studies aimed at investigating outcomes from ADL.

Londrina Activities of Daily Living Protocol: Reproducibility, Validity, and Reference Values in Physically Independent Adults Age 50 Years and Older.

Background: It is important to assess activities of daily living (ADL) in older adults due to impairment of independence and quality of life. However, there is no objective and standardized protocol available to assess this outcome. Thus, the aim of this study was to verify the reproducibility and validity of a new protocol for ADL assessment applied in physically independent adults age ≥50 y, the Londrina ADL protocol, and to establish an equation to predict reference values of the Londrina ADL protocol.

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).

GOLD B-C-D groups or GOLD II-III-IV grades: Which one better reflects the functionality of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?

The aim of this article is to investigate which global initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease (GOLD) classification (B-C-D or II-III-IV) better reflects the functionality of patients with moderate to very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Ninety patients with COPD were classified according to the GOLD B-C-D and II-III-IV classifications. Functionality was assessed by different outcomes: 6-min walk test (6MWT), activities of daily living (ADL) (London Chest ADL Scale), and daily life activity/inactivity variables assessed by activity monitoring (SenseWear armband, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA).

Relationship between sniff nasal inspiratory pressure and BODE index in patients with COPD.

Purpose: The aims of this study were to investigate the relationship between sniff nasal inspiratory pressure (SNIP) and severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as defined by the BODE index, and to investigate the capacity of different SNIP cutoffs to predict a BODE index score ≥5 (i.e., worse disease severity).

Spirometry in healthy subjects: do technical details of the test procedure affect the results?

Introduction: Spirometry should follow strict quality criteria. The American Thoracic Society (ATS) recommends the use of a noseclip; however there are controversies about its need. ATS also indicates that tests should be done in the sitting position, but there are no recommendations neither about position of the upper limbs and lower limbs nor about who should hold the mouthpiece while performing the maneuvers: evaluated subject or evaluator.

Respiratory muscle strength during and after hospitalization for COPD exacerbation.

Background: A more profound investigation of respiratory muscle strength during COPD exacerbation was needed, so we investigated respiratory muscle strength and related factors in patients with COPD during and after hospitalization for COPD exacerbation.

Methods: In 19 subjects hospitalized for COPD exacerbation (12 males, mean age 67 ± 11 y, median percent-of-predicted FEV(1) 26% [IQR 19-32%]) we measured lung function and respiratory and quadriceps muscle strength at admission (day 1), at discharge, and 1 month after discharge.

Results: At admission, 68% of the subjects had inspiratory muscle dysfunction (maximum inspiratory pressure < 70% of predicted).

Maximum voluntary ventilation is more strongly associated with energy expenditure during simple activities of daily living than measures of airflow obstruction or respiratory muscle strength in patients with COPD.

This is a retrospective analysis of data in which we explored the association between energy expenditure (EE) and lung function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A total of 36 participants (20 males; forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1)) of 48 ± 15% predicted) underwent measures of indirect calorimetry whilst performing five simple activities of daily living. Maximal voluntary ventilation was the only lung function parameter associated with EE.

Energy expenditure during daily activities as measured by two motion sensors in patients with COPD.

Background: In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), energy expenditure (EE) assessment during the performance of daily activities is not yet studied in depth. The aim of this study was to determine which daily activities are more demanding to patients with COPD and to compare the accuracy of EE estimation given by the pedometer Digiwalker SW701 (DW) and the multisensor SenseWear Armband (SAB).

Methods: Thirty-six patients with COPD (20 men; FEV1 48 ± 15%predicted; BMI 25.