Reduced calf circumference is an independent predictor of worse quality of life, severity of disease, frequent exacerbation, and death in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease admitted to a pulmonary rehabilitation program: A historic cohort study.

Background: Muscle wasting is associated with worse outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. We assessed the association of calf circumference (CC) measurements with clinical outcomes in COPD patients referred to an outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program (PRP).

Methods: In this single-center, retrospective study, we analyzed demographic and clinical data ( spirometry tests, comorbidities, COPD exacerbations, dyspnea scoring, exercise capacity, quality-of-life scores, BMI, CC measurements, and all-cause deaths [for 2 years]) from COPD patients PRP medical records.

Influence of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease exacerbator phenotype.

Objective To verify if there are differences in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patient exacerbator and non-exacerbator phenotypes undergoing a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program (PRP). Methods A real life retrospective study included outpatients with COPD from public primary care who completed a 12-weeks PRP, three times a week. All were assessed before and after PRP using the six-minute walk test (6MWT), the modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea index, quality of life and Body-mass Index, airflow Obstruction, Dyspnea and Exercise (BODE index).

Effectiveness of pulmonary rehabilitation in exercise capacity and quality of life in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with and without global fat-free mass depletion.

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) in exercise capacity and quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with and without global fat-free mass (FFM) depletion.

Design: Retrospective case-control.

Setting: Outpatient clinic, university center.

[Respiratory symptoms in charcoal production workers in the cities of Lindolfo Collor, Ivoti and Presidente Lucena, Brazil].

Objective: To determine the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and smoking, as well as pulmonary function parameters among charcoal production workers in three cities in southern Brazil.

Methods: This was an observational study including 67 individuals. Data were obtained by means of interviews and spirometry.