INTRODUCTION: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive disease that compromises the effort tolerance, leading to functional limitations or disabilities. Besides the test of six-minute walk test (6MWT), new tests have been proposed to assess such limitations. The SPPB (Short Physical Performance Battery) consists of a battery of tests that assess physical functional performance of the lower limbs (PFPLL). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the PFPLL of COPD users of home oxygen (HO) through the SPPB and correlate it with the BODE index of COPD severity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 54 patients with very severe COPD, HO users, 25 met the inclusion criteria. The SPPB the PFPLL evaluated through tests of static balance, walking speed and chair rising. The BODE index was composed by body composition, FEV1, dyspnea and 6MWT. RESULTS: Among the 25 evaluated (11 women and 14 men) with a mean age of 71 ± 6.80 years and mean FEV1 of 27.40 ± 9.68% predicted, the average of SPPB total score was 9.36 ± 1.80 points (moderate performance). The mean BODE (body mass index, obstruction, exercise, and dyspnea) index was 6.16 ± 2.36 points. The SPPB total score was negatively correlated with BODE and positive with the 6MWT. The variable gait speed in seconds SPPB was negatively correlated with the 6MWT and positively with MRC and BODE. CONCLUSION: Given the observed correlations emphasize the practicality and usefulness of SPPB in the evaluation and monitoring of COPD severity and functional capacity for the studied sample, suggesting a potential use as a tool for prognosis of COPD in association with other markers.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Lower extremity; Physical fitness; Severity of illness index; Disability evaluation
