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COPD as a systemic disease: impact on physical functional limitations.
Mark D Eisner1, Paul D Blanc, Edward H Yelin
1Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine and Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143-0111, USA. mark.eisner@ucsf.edu
The American Journal of Medicine
|August 30, 2008
Summary
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) significantly impairs physical function, leading to limitations in lower extremity function, exercise capacity, and muscle strength. This condition affects multiple body systems beyond the lungs.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Gerontology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) significantly impacts physical health.
- The precise nature of physical functional limitations directly caused by COPD requires further clarification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and quantify physical functional limitations specifically attributable to COPD.
- To compare functional limitations in individuals with COPD to a matched cohort without the condition.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Function, Living, Outcomes, and Work (FLOW) cohort study, including 1202 adults with COPD and 302 matched referent subjects.
- Assessed lower extremity function (SPPB), exercise performance (SMWT), balance (Functional Reach Test), muscle strength, and self-reported limitations.
- Employed multivariate analysis to adjust for demographic and lifestyle confounders.
Main Results:
- COPD was linked to significantly poorer lower extremity function (SPPB score decrement of -1.0 points).
- Individuals with COPD exhibited reduced exercise capacity (SMWT distance decreased by 334 feet) and weaker muscle strength across all tested groups (P<.0001).
- COPD increased the risk of self-reported functional limitation (OR 6.4).
Conclusions:
- A wide range of physical functional limitations are directly caused by COPD.
- COPD's impact extends to numerous body systems, affecting function remotely from the lungs.
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