Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 28, 2025
Home-Based Prescribed Pulmonary Exercise in Patients with Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Published on: August 24, 2019
Prognostic value of simple measures of physical function and muscle strength in COPD: A systematic review
Daniela Massierer1, Waleed Alsowayan2, Vanessa Pereira Lima3
1School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, 3654 Prom Sir-William-Osler, Hosmer House, Room #200, Montreal, QC, H3G 1Y5, Canada; Translational Research in Respiratory Diseases Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, 1001 Decarie Blvd, Block E, Montreal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada; Centre for Health Outcomes Research and Evaluation (CORE), Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, 5252 Boul. de Maisonneuve Ouest, Room # 3E.01, Montreal, QC, H4A 3S5, Canada.
Purpose:
There has been an increased interest in simple measures of physical function and muscle strength that can be used in all clinical settings to assess individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and predict their prognosis. The main objective was to examine the prognostic value of simple measures of physical function and muscle strength in relation to exacerbation, hospitalization and mortality in individuals with COPD.
Methods:
Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane and Web of Science were searched. We included prospective observational studies that examined the prognostic value of simple performed-based tests or self-reported measures of physical function or muscle strength in relation to exacerbation, hospitalization and mortality in individuals with COPD.
Results:
Seven articles met the inclusion criteria. The most commonly used tests were the handgrip strength (HGS) (n = 4) and 1-min sit-to-stand (STS) (n = 2). There were considerable variations in terms of characteristics of patients included, setting of recruitment, type of tests used, duration of follow-up and outcome measures of interest. The majority of the studies were classified as having "fair" or "poor" methodological quality.
Conclusions:
There is a limited number of studies examining the prognostic value of simple measures of physical function and muscle strength in relation to exacerbations, hospitalizations and mortality in individuals with COPD. To date, the HGS and 1-min STS tests are the most studied tests and seem to be suitable for prognosis purposes in individuals with COPD. However, more studies with better methodological quality are needed to confirm these findings.
Related Concept Videos
01:26COPD: Management Using Bronchodilators and Corticosteroids
01:27Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-IV: Assessement and Diagnostic Studies
Medical History
01:29Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-V: Management
Smoking Cessation
01:20Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-I: Introduction
01:20COPD: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features
The primary cause for the onset of COPD is cigarette smoking and exposure to air pollution. These hazardous factors initiate a chain reaction within the lungs, resulting in chronic inflammation, damage to the airways, and a...
01:25Pulmonary Function Tests
Pulmonary Function Tests are crucial diagnostic tools for assessing respiratory function, particularly in patients with chronic respiratory disorders. They comprehensively evaluate lung volumes, ventilatory function, breathing mechanics, diffusion, and gas exchange. These tests help diagnose pulmonary diseases and play a significant role in monitoring disease progression, evaluating disability, and assessing response to therapy.
PFTs involve using a spirometer, a...