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Association Between the Results of the Timed Up-and-Go Test Adjusted for Disease Severity and Sarcopenia in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: a Pilot Study

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

Loss of muscle mass and/or physical performance, a condition commonly known as sarcopenia, is prevalent in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is associated with adverse outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between functional performance and sarcopenia in COPD patients classified by disease severity according to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) criteria.

METHODS:

The study was a cross-sectional observational and the sample size consisted of 35 COPD patients (69.24±1.54 years, 20 men). Physical performance was assessed with the timed up-and-go (TUG) test. Sarcopenia was assessed according to the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People criteria.

RESULTS:

The frequency of sarcopenia was 20% and was more prevalent among individuals classified with greater disease severity, GOLD III, n=4 patients (23%) and GOLD IV, n=3 patients (27%), p=0.83. The mean time to complete the TUG test was 11.66±4.78 s. Binary logistic regression revealed an association between the TUG test and sarcopenia adjusted by disease severity (OR=1.55, 95% CI: 1.03-8.23, p=0.04).

CONCLUSION:

Our findings showed that worse performance in the TUG test leads to a substantial increase in the chance of COPD patients presenting sarcopenia.

Lung Diseases; Hand Strength; Walking Speed; Sarcopenia; Physical Functional Performance


INTRODUCTION

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affects the lungs primarily by limiting airflow, and in more advanced stages of the disease, patients present dyspnea and reduced exercise tolerance (11. Vogelmeier CF, Criner GJ, Martinez FJ, Anzueto A, Barnes PJ, Bourbeau J, et al. Global Srategy for the Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention of Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease 2017 Report GOLD. Executive Summary. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2017;195(5):557-582. https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.201701-0218PP.
https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.201701-0218...
). COPD is considered a systemic disease and is characterized by various extrapulmonary effects, including systemic inflammation (22. Landbo C, Prescott E, Lange P, Vestbo J, Almdal TP. Prognostic value of nutritional status in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1999;160(6):1856-61. https://doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm.160.6.9902115.
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), comorbidities (33. Divo M, Cote C, de Torres JP, Casanova C, Marin JM, Pinto-Plata V, et al. Comorbidities and risk of mortality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2012;186(2):155-61. https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.201201-0034OC.
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) and skeletal muscle dysfunction, especially in the lower limbs (44. Maltais F, Decramer M, Casaburi R, Barreiro E, Burelle Y, Debigaré R, et al. An official American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society statement: update on limb muscle dysfunction in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2014;189(9):e15-62. https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.201402-0373ST.
https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.201402-0373...
). These effects contribute to a reduction in functional capacity (55. Celli BR, Cote CG, Marin JM, Casanova C, Montes de Oca M, Mendez RA, et al. The body-mass index, airflow obstruction, dyspnea, and exercise capacity index in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. N Engl J Med. 2004;350(10):1005-12. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa021322.
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) and impair the patient’s quality of life and ability to perform activities of daily living (66. Shrikrishna D, Patel M, Tanner RJ, Seymour JM, Connolly BA, Puthucheary ZA, et al. Quadriceps wasting and physical inactivity in patients with COPD. Eur Respir J. 2012;40(5):1115-22. https://doi.org/10.1183/09031936.00170111.
https://doi.org/10.1183/09031936.0017011...
). In addition, the lack of infrastructure, social influences (77. Nyssen SM, Santos JG, Barusso MS, Oliveira AD Jr, Lorenzo VA, Jamami M. Levels of physical activity and predictors of mortality in COPD. J Bras Pneumol. 2013;39(6):659-66. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1806-37132013000600004.
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1806-3713201300...
) and even the number of hours for which daily oxygen therapy (with equipment that limits the patient’s movements) is used can reduce the level of physical activity during daily living, leading in turn to a significant reduction in functional and exercise capacity in these patients (88. Mazzarin C, Kovelis D, Biazim S, Pitta F, Valderramas S. Physical Inactivity, Functional Status and Exercise Capacity in COPD Patients Receiving Home-Based Oxygen Therapy. COPD. 2018;15(3):271-6. https://doi.org/10.1080/15412555.2018.1469608.
https://doi.org/10.1080/15412555.2018.14...
).

Sarcopenia is another systemic manifestation in COPD (99. Costa TM, Costa FM, Moreira CA, Rabelo LM, Boguszewski CL, Borba VZ. Sarcopenia in COPD: relationship with COPD severity and prognosis. J Bras Pneumol. 2015;41(5):415-21. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1806-37132015000000040.
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1806-3713201500...
,1010. Jones SE, Maddocks M, Kon SSC, Canavan JL, Nolan CM, Clark AL, et al. Sarcopenia in COPD: prevalence, clinical correlates and response to pulmonary rehabilitation. Thorax. 2015;70(3):213-8. https://doi.org/10.1136/thoraxjnl-2014-206440.
https://doi.org/10.1136/thoraxjnl-2014-2...
). According to the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People, sarcopenia is probable when low muscle strength is detected, and it is confirmed by the presence of low muscle quantity or quality. Furthermore, when low muscle strength, low muscle quantity/quality and low physical performance are all detected, sarcopenia is considered severe (1111. Cruz-Jentoft AJ, Bahat G, Bauer J, Boirie Y, Bruyàre O, Cederholm T, et al. Sarcopenia: revised European consensus on definition and diagnosis. Age Ageing. 2019;48(1):16-31. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afy169.
https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afy169...
) and was recently recognized as an independent condition by the International Classification of Disease (1212. Cao L, Morley JE. Sarcopenia Is Recognized as an Independent Condition by an International Classification of Disease, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) Code. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2016;17(8):675-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2016.06.001.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2016.06....
). In addition, as sarcopenia is strongly associated with multiple negative outcomes in the elderly, an investigation of this condition in COPD patients is fundamental to alert physicians for early diagnosis and treatment of loss of lean muscle mass, preventing worse outcomes and poorer quality of life (99. Costa TM, Costa FM, Moreira CA, Rabelo LM, Boguszewski CL, Borba VZ. Sarcopenia in COPD: relationship with COPD severity and prognosis. J Bras Pneumol. 2015;41(5):415-21. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1806-37132015000000040.
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1806-3713201500...
,1010. Jones SE, Maddocks M, Kon SSC, Canavan JL, Nolan CM, Clark AL, et al. Sarcopenia in COPD: prevalence, clinical correlates and response to pulmonary rehabilitation. Thorax. 2015;70(3):213-8. https://doi.org/10.1136/thoraxjnl-2014-206440.
https://doi.org/10.1136/thoraxjnl-2014-2...
).

The frequency of sarcopenia in COPD patients varies from 15% to 40% according to age and the method used to assess muscle mass, such as dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) (99. Costa TM, Costa FM, Moreira CA, Rabelo LM, Boguszewski CL, Borba VZ. Sarcopenia in COPD: relationship with COPD severity and prognosis. J Bras Pneumol. 2015;41(5):415-21. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1806-37132015000000040.
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1806-3713201500...
), bioimpedance analysis (1010. Jones SE, Maddocks M, Kon SSC, Canavan JL, Nolan CM, Clark AL, et al. Sarcopenia in COPD: prevalence, clinical correlates and response to pulmonary rehabilitation. Thorax. 2015;70(3):213-8. https://doi.org/10.1136/thoraxjnl-2014-206440.
https://doi.org/10.1136/thoraxjnl-2014-2...
) and calf circumference (1010. Jones SE, Maddocks M, Kon SSC, Canavan JL, Nolan CM, Clark AL, et al. Sarcopenia in COPD: prevalence, clinical correlates and response to pulmonary rehabilitation. Thorax. 2015;70(3):213-8. https://doi.org/10.1136/thoraxjnl-2014-206440.
https://doi.org/10.1136/thoraxjnl-2014-2...

11. Cruz-Jentoft AJ, Bahat G, Bauer J, Boirie Y, Bruyàre O, Cederholm T, et al. Sarcopenia: revised European consensus on definition and diagnosis. Age Ageing. 2019;48(1):16-31. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afy169.
https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afy169...

12. Cao L, Morley JE. Sarcopenia Is Recognized as an Independent Condition by an International Classification of Disease, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) Code. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2016;17(8):675-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2016.06.001.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2016.06....

13. Rolland Y, Lauwers-Cances V, Cournot M, Nourhashémi F, Reynish W, Riviàre D, et al. Sarcopenia, calf circumference, and physical function of elderly women: a cross-sectional study. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2003;51(8):1120-4. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1532-5415.2003.51362.x.
https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1532-5415.2003...

14. Kilavuz A, Meseri R, Savas S, Simsek H, Sahin S, Bicakli DH, et al. Association of sarcopenia with depressive symptoms and functional status among ambulatory community-dwelling elderly. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2018;76:196-201. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2018.03.003.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2018.0...

15. Byun MK, Cho EN, Chang J, Ahn CM, Kim HJ. Sarcopenia correlates with systemic inflammation in COPD. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2017;12:669-75. https://doi.org/10.2147/COPD.S130790.
https://doi.org/10.2147/COPD.S130790...

16. Marquis K, Debigaré R, Lacasse Y, LeBlanc P, Jobin J, Carrier G, et al. Midthigh muscle cross-sectional area is a better predictor of mortality than body mass index in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2002;166(6):809-13. https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.2107031.
https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.2107031...
-1717. Wagner PD. Possible mechanisms underlying the development of cachexia in COPD. Eur Respir J. 2008;31(3):492-501. https://doi.org/10.1183/09031936.00074807.
https://doi.org/10.1183/09031936.0007480...
). To date, few studies (1010. Jones SE, Maddocks M, Kon SSC, Canavan JL, Nolan CM, Clark AL, et al. Sarcopenia in COPD: prevalence, clinical correlates and response to pulmonary rehabilitation. Thorax. 2015;70(3):213-8. https://doi.org/10.1136/thoraxjnl-2014-206440.
https://doi.org/10.1136/thoraxjnl-2014-2...
,1818. Limpawattana P, Inthasuwan P, Putraveephong S, Boonsawat W, Theerakulpisut D, Sawanyawisuth, K. Sarcopenia in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A study of prevalence and associated factors in the Southeast Asian population. Chron Respir Dis. 2018;15(3):250-7. https://doi.org/10.1177/1479972317743759.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1479972317743759...
) have examined sarcopenia in COPD with an emphasis on the loss of muscle mass and physical performance. The results of these studies also support an association between sarcopenia and systemic inflammation, dyspnea (1515. Byun MK, Cho EN, Chang J, Ahn CM, Kim HJ. Sarcopenia correlates with systemic inflammation in COPD. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2017;12:669-75. https://doi.org/10.2147/COPD.S130790.
https://doi.org/10.2147/COPD.S130790...
), poor quality of life (1010. Jones SE, Maddocks M, Kon SSC, Canavan JL, Nolan CM, Clark AL, et al. Sarcopenia in COPD: prevalence, clinical correlates and response to pulmonary rehabilitation. Thorax. 2015;70(3):213-8. https://doi.org/10.1136/thoraxjnl-2014-206440.
https://doi.org/10.1136/thoraxjnl-2014-2...
), poor prognosis (99. Costa TM, Costa FM, Moreira CA, Rabelo LM, Boguszewski CL, Borba VZ. Sarcopenia in COPD: relationship with COPD severity and prognosis. J Bras Pneumol. 2015;41(5):415-21. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1806-37132015000000040.
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1806-3713201500...
) and frailty (1919. Limpawattana P, Putraveephong S, Inthasuwan P, Boonsawat W, Theerakulpisut D, Chindaprasirt J. Frailty syndrome in ambulatory patients with COPD. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2017;12:1193-8. https://doi.org/10.2147/COPD.S134233.
https://doi.org/10.2147/COPD.S134233...
).

However, to our knowledge, the association between sarcopenia and the results of simple physical performance tests, such as the timed up-and-go (TUG) test, have not yet been investigated. Timed up and go test is reliable, valid and responsive (2020. Jones SE, Kon SS, Canavan JL, Patel MS, Clark AL, Nolan CM, et al. The five-repetition sit-to-stand test as a functional outcome measure in COPD. Thorax. 2013;68(11):1015-20. https://doi.org/10.1136/thoraxjnl-2013-203576.
https://doi.org/10.1136/thoraxjnl-2013-2...
) and has been used with COPD patients, as it can be performed in most healthcare settings. In our study, we hypothesized that COPD patients with sarcopenia might have worse performance in the TUG test when adjusted by disease severity. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between physical performance and sarcopenia in COPD patients classified by disease severity according to the GOLD criteria.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was a cross-sectional observational and was carried out between May 2016 and May 2017 following the recommendations of the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) initiative (2121. Malta M, Cardoso LO, Bastos FI, Magnanini MM, Silva CM. STROBE initiative: guidelines on reporting observational studies. Rev Saude Publica. 2010;44(3):559-65. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-89102010000300021.
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-8910201000...
). The sample consisted of patients referred to a pulmonary rehabilitation program at a university center in the city of Curitiba in southern Brazil. After study approval by the ethics committee of the local municipal department of health (ref. no. 481.008/2013), potential participants were contacted by telephone to schedule an assessment. Individuals who were considered eligible signed a voluntary informed consent form that explained the aims, procedures, possible risks and benefits of the study. Patients were assessed at a physical therapy clinic or in their homes if they were unable to attend the clinic. All assessments were supervised by two previously trained physical therapists.

The inclusion criteria were as follows: being over 50 years of age; having a diagnosis of COPD classified as stage II to IV according to the GOLD criteria; having given up smoking at least 6 months previously; being clinically stable (i.e., the disease had been stable for at least 1 month); and not having been in any physical rehabilitation or training program in the previous year. Exclusion criteria were the presence of other pulmonary diseases (e.g., asthma and pulmonary fibrosis) or other incapacitating, severe or difficult-to-control nonpulmonary diseases that could interfere with the tests.

Pulmonary function was assessed with a spirometer (Microlab Spiro V 1.30, Micro Medical Ltd., Rochester, Kent, England) using the American Thoracic Society guidelines (ATS) (2222. ATS Committee on Proficiency Standards for Clinical Pulmonary Function Laboratories. ATS statement: guidelines for the six-minute walk test. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2002;166(1):111-7. https://doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm.166.1.at1102.
https://doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm.166.1.at1...
) considering reference values established by Pereira et al. (2323. Pereira CA, Sato T, Rodrigues SC. New reference values for forced spirometry in white adults in Brazil. J Bras Pneumol. 2007;33(4):397-406. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1806-37132007000400008.
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1806-3713200700...
) Severity of airway obstruction was classified according to the GOLD criteria (GOLD II: 50% ≤VEF1 <80%; GOLD III: 30% ≤VEF1 <50%; GOLD IV <30%) (11. Vogelmeier CF, Criner GJ, Martinez FJ, Anzueto A, Barnes PJ, Bourbeau J, et al. Global Srategy for the Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention of Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease 2017 Report GOLD. Executive Summary. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2017;195(5):557-582. https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.201701-0218PP.
https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.201701-0218...
).

Primary Outcome

Physical performance was assessed with the TUG test (2424. Podsiadlo D, Richardson, S. The timed “Up & Go”: a test of basic functional mobility for frail elderly persons. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1991;39(2):142-8. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.1991.tb01616.x.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.1991...
,2525. Alexandre TS, Meira DM, Rico NC, Mizuta SK. Accuracy of Timed Up and Go Test for screening risk of falls among community-dwelling elderly. Rev Bras Fisioter. 2012;16(5):381-8. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1413-35552012005000041.
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1413-3555201200...
). In the TUG test, the patient got up from a chair (seat height 45 cm) without using his arms, walked at a comfortable, safe pace for three meters, returned to the chair and sit down. The test was timed (in seconds) from the beginning of the test to the moment the participant leaned against the back of the chair again. TUG was first demonstrated by the researchers after the patient performed the test once to become familiar and then it was carried out again for timing (2424. Podsiadlo D, Richardson, S. The timed “Up & Go”: a test of basic functional mobility for frail elderly persons. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1991;39(2):142-8. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.1991.tb01616.x.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.1991...
). A cutoff point of 11.2s was used to indicate reduced functional performance (2626. Mesquita R, Wilke S, Smid DE, Janssen DJ, Franssen FM, Probst VS, et al. Measurement properties of the Timed Up & Go test in patients with COPD. Chron Respir Dis. 2016;13(4):344-52. https://doi.org/10.1177/1479972316647178.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1479972316647178...
).

Secondary Outcome

The presence of sarcopenia was investigated by evaluating the handgrip strength (HGS), calf circumference and gait speed test (1111. Cruz-Jentoft AJ, Bahat G, Bauer J, Boirie Y, Bruyàre O, Cederholm T, et al. Sarcopenia: revised European consensus on definition and diagnosis. Age Ageing. 2019;48(1):16-31. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afy169.
https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afy169...
).

HGS was assessed using a Saehan hydraulic hand dynamometer (Saehan Corporation - SH5001). The participant was seated with his feet on the ground, hips and knees flexed at 90° without any support for the arms, shoulders in adduction with neutral rotation and one elbow flexed at 90° with the ipsilateral forearm and wrist in neutral position. Then, the patient was asked to perform three maximal contractions with a 1-minute rest between each. The mean of the grip strength measurements in kilograms for the three attempts was used for analysis. Low HGS was defined as HGS <30 kg for men and <20 kg for women (2727. Cruz-Jentoft AJ, Baeyens JP, Bauer JM, Boirie Y, Cederholm T, Landi F, et al. Sarcopenia: European consensus on definition and diagnosis: Report of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People. Age Ageing. 2010;39(4):412-23. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afq034.
https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afq034...
).

Skeletal muscle mass was estimated based on calf circumference and was measured in the most prominent region of the dominant calf with the patient sitting and the hip and knee flexed at 90°. A cutoff point of 30 cm was used to indicate reduced skeletal muscle mass (2828. Ho SC, Wang JY, Kuo HP, Huang CD, Lee KY, Chuang HC, et al. Mid-arm and calf circumferences are stronger mortality predictors than body mass index for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2016;11:2075-80. https://doi.org/10.2147/COPD.S107326.
https://doi.org/10.2147/COPD.S107326...
).

Physical performance was assessed using the GS test, which was performed over 10 m, covered surface with positions marked on the floor at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 m. Participants were positioned at the 0 m point and instructed to walk in a straight line for 10 m after the command “Go” was given. The distance to cover the route was divided by the time to give the mean (m/s). The test was performed three times, and the best value was used for analysis. The first and last 2 m were excluded to allow time for the patient to accelerate and decelerate (2929. Graham JE, Ostir GV, Fisher SR, Ottenbacher KJ. Assessing walking speed in clinical research: a systematic review. J Eval Clin Pract. 2008;14(4):552-62. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2753.2007.00917.x.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2753.2007...
,3030. Rogers ME, Rogers NL, Takeshima N, Islam MM. Methods to assess and improve the physical parameters associated with fall risk in older adults. Prev Med. 2003;36(3):255-64. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0091-7435(02)00028-2.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0091-7435(02)00...
). Participants were asked to walk at their normal pace, and no incentive was given to avoid influencing the result (2929. Graham JE, Ostir GV, Fisher SR, Ottenbacher KJ. Assessing walking speed in clinical research: a systematic review. J Eval Clin Pract. 2008;14(4):552-62. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2753.2007.00917.x.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2753.2007...
,3030. Rogers ME, Rogers NL, Takeshima N, Islam MM. Methods to assess and improve the physical parameters associated with fall risk in older adults. Prev Med. 2003;36(3):255-64. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0091-7435(02)00028-2.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0091-7435(02)00...
). A cutoff point of 0.8 m/s was used (3131. Abellan van Kan G, Rolland Y, Andrieu S, Bauer J, Beauchet O, Bonnefoy M, et al. Gait speed at usual pace as a predictor of adverse outcomes in community-dwelling older people an International Academy on Nutrition and Aging (IANA) Task Force. J Nutr Health Aging. 2009;13(10):881-9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-009-0246-z.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-009-0246-...
).

Statistical Analysis

Sampling was nonprobabilistic, and all the patients who met the inclusion criteria in the study period were included. However, a post hoc calculation using an effect size of 0.5 based on Cohen’s d and the sample size of 35 patients showed a power of 91% to detect an association between TUG and sarcopenia in patients classified according to disease severity.

The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to test normality. The groups were compared by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey’s post hoc test.

After adjustment of the results for disease severity according to the GOLD criteria, binary logistic regression was used to detect an association between the results of the TUG test and the presence of sarcopenia according to disease severity. A significance level of p<0.05 was used. The data were analyzed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0, and study power was calculated with G* Power 3.1®.

RESULTS

Forty-five individuals with COPD were recruited, but only 35 of these were included in the study, as shown in Figure 1. The demographic, anthropometric, clinical and functional characteristics of the patients are shown in Table 1. The patients were seniors, and the majority were classified as GOLD III (49%) or GOLD IV (31%).

Figure 1
Data collection flowchart.
Table 1
Demographic, anthropometric, clinical and functional characteristics of the sample.

Patients were divided according to their disease staging (GOLD 2017) (01). There was no statistically significant difference between patients in terms of age (p=0.865), sex (p=0.576) or BMI (p=0.064). Patients classified as GOLD IV had significantly lower functional performance than GOLD II (14.46±5.88 s vs 9.55±2.36 s) and III (14.46±5.88 s vs 10.62±2.81 s), as assessed with the TUG test (Figure 2).

Figure 2
Functional performance by disease severity (one-way ANOVA, p=0.025; Tukey’s post hoc test (II vs. IV and III vs. IV)).

The frequency of sarcopenia among the 35 patients was 20% (7 patients) and was greater among individuals classified with greater disease severity, GOLD III = 4 patients (23%) and GOLD IV = 3 patients (27%), p=0.82.

Binary logistic regression revealed an association between a TUG time >11.2 s and sarcopenia when patients were classified by severity of disease (OR=1.55, 95% CI: 1.03-8.23, p=0.04).

DISCUSSION

In this cross-sectional study, sarcopenia was associated with TUG performance after adjustment for disease severity, indicating that when disease severity is considered, COPD patients with worse TUG performance are more likely to have sarcopenia. Up to one-third of COPD patients, even in the early stages of the disease, have a loss of muscle function in their limbs (25% less strength than controls) (3232. Seymour JM, Spruit MA, Hopkinson NS, Natanek SA, Man WD, Jackson A, et al. The prevalence of quadriceps weakness in COPD and the relationship with disease severity. Eur Respir J. 2010;36(1):81-8. https://doi.org/10.1183/09031936.00104909.
https://doi.org/10.1183/09031936.0010490...
).

Previous studies have shown that the frequency of sarcopenia is highly dependent on the method used for assessment and can vary from 14% to 40% in COPD patients (99. Costa TM, Costa FM, Moreira CA, Rabelo LM, Boguszewski CL, Borba VZ. Sarcopenia in COPD: relationship with COPD severity and prognosis. J Bras Pneumol. 2015;41(5):415-21. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1806-37132015000000040.
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1806-3713201500...
,1616. Marquis K, Debigaré R, Lacasse Y, LeBlanc P, Jobin J, Carrier G, et al. Midthigh muscle cross-sectional area is a better predictor of mortality than body mass index in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2002;166(6):809-13. https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.2107031.
https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.2107031...
,1717. Wagner PD. Possible mechanisms underlying the development of cachexia in COPD. Eur Respir J. 2008;31(3):492-501. https://doi.org/10.1183/09031936.00074807.
https://doi.org/10.1183/09031936.0007480...
). In our study, in which sarcopenia was considered to be present when HGS <30 kg for men and <20 kg for women with low muscle mass, i.e., calf circumference <30 cm and severe sarcopenia with GS ≤0.8 m/s or TUG >11.2 s, we found a frequency of 20%, showing that low muscle quantity/quality and low physical performance not only affect the elderly but also have a high percentage among patients with chronic respiratory diseases. Furthermore, when we investigated the presence of sarcopenia in our patients according to their disease staging, a greater frequency of this condition among patients with more severe COPD was found. A similar study found a higher frequency of sarcopenia in GOLD III and IV patients (15% and 20%, respectively) where patients with sarcopenia who were significantly older and had more airflow obstruction and reduced quadriceps strength, exercise capacity, functional performance, subjective and objective physical activity and health status compared with patients without sarcopenia (1010. Jones SE, Maddocks M, Kon SSC, Canavan JL, Nolan CM, Clark AL, et al. Sarcopenia in COPD: prevalence, clinical correlates and response to pulmonary rehabilitation. Thorax. 2015;70(3):213-8. https://doi.org/10.1136/thoraxjnl-2014-206440.
https://doi.org/10.1136/thoraxjnl-2014-2...
).

This difference between the results of the studies may be because Costa et al. (99. Costa TM, Costa FM, Moreira CA, Rabelo LM, Boguszewski CL, Borba VZ. Sarcopenia in COPD: relationship with COPD severity and prognosis. J Bras Pneumol. 2015;41(5):415-21. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1806-37132015000000040.
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1806-3713201500...
) used DXA, which is considered a gold standard for diagnosing sarcopenia, whereas we used calf circumference, gait speed and grip strength (3333. Baumgartner RN, Koehler KM, Gallagher D, Romero L, Heymsfield SB, Ross RR, et al. Epidemiology of sarcopenia among the elderly in New Mexico. Am J Epidemiol. 1998;147(8):755-63. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a009520.
https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.a...
). Nevertheless, DXA often cannot be used in clinical practice because of the high cost of the equipment and the need for trained individuals to carry out the exam. The approach used in the present study has the advantage in that it requires only simple tools that can easily be used in clinical practice (e.g., a measuring tape).

Patients classified as GOLD IV had significantly lower physical performance than GOLD II and III patients assessed with the TUG test. Our GOLD IV patients completed the TUG test in 14.29 s, substantially longer than the cutoff adopted here and suggested by Mesquita et al., who showed that this test is valid for assessing functional capacity in COPD patients and that a test completion time of more than 11s indicates worse health (2626. Mesquita R, Wilke S, Smid DE, Janssen DJ, Franssen FM, Probst VS, et al. Measurement properties of the Timed Up & Go test in patients with COPD. Chron Respir Dis. 2016;13(4):344-52. https://doi.org/10.1177/1479972316647178.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1479972316647178...
). Haddad et al. proposed a cutoff >2 s to identify COPD patients at high risk for falls and reported a mean TUG time of 11.9 s in their study (3434. Al Haddad MA, John M, Hussain S, Bolton CE. Role of the Timed Up and Go Test in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. J Cardiopulm Rehabil Prev. 2016;36(1):49-55. https://doi.org/10.1097/HCR.0000000000000143.
https://doi.org/10.1097/HCR.000000000000...
). Both values are lower than the data found in the current study.

Despite these findings, Haddad et al. did not identify a relationship between TUG performance and spirometry results or any differences between the TUG results of patients among disease stages. However, most of the patients were classified as GOLD I or II, unlike the patients from our study, who were predominantly GOLD III or IV (3434. Al Haddad MA, John M, Hussain S, Bolton CE. Role of the Timed Up and Go Test in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. J Cardiopulm Rehabil Prev. 2016;36(1):49-55. https://doi.org/10.1097/HCR.0000000000000143.
https://doi.org/10.1097/HCR.000000000000...
).

The present study has several limitations. These include the small number of participants, possibly favoring the analysis of the stratification by the severity of the disease and the fact that muscle mass was not assessed using the gold standard. Despite the small sample, a post hoc calculation revealed a power of 0.91, i.e., a 91% chance of detecting an association between the results of the TUG and sarcopenia. Furthermore, although DXA is more accurate and reliable, it is expensive and difficult to use in clinical practice. Muscle mass was therefore assessed by measuring calf circumference, which is a simple clinical method, but not the only criteria used to screen for sarcopenia, as grip strength, gait speed and TUG were also assessed for diagnosis (3535. Cooper C, Fielding R, Visser M, van Loon LJ, Rolland Y, Orwoll E, et al. Tools in the assessment of sarcopenia. Calcif Tissue Int. 2013;93(3):201-10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00223-013-9757-z.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00223-013-9757-...
). Calf circumference may be used to measure muscle mass as a proxy for muscle quantity in settings where no other method is available (1111. Cruz-Jentoft AJ, Bahat G, Bauer J, Boirie Y, Bruyàre O, Cederholm T, et al. Sarcopenia: revised European consensus on definition and diagnosis. Age Ageing. 2019;48(1):16-31. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afy169.
https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afy169...
).

CONCLUSION

Our findings showed that a worse performance in the TUG test increases the chance of COPD patients presenting sarcopenia.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors would like to thank Juan Ricardo Sierra, of the Municipal Department of Health, Dr. Paulo Roberto Miranda Sandoval, Bárbara Beber Lopes, Everlyn Franco de Jesus and the patients who participated in this study. They would also like to express their gratitude to CNPq for providing a research grant for Dr. Anna Raquel Silveira Gomes (ref. no. 306179/2016) and a master fellowship for Camila Mazzarin. This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil (CAPES) - Finance Code 001.

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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    07 Nov 2019
  • Date of issue
    2019

History

  • Received
    17 Sept 2018
  • Accepted
    18 Aug 2019
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