COPD
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On spirometry the FEV(1)/FEV(6) ratio has been advocated as a surrogate for the FEV(1)/FVC. The significance of isolated reductions in either the FEV(1)/FEV(6) or FEV(1)/FVC is not known. ⋯ The FEV(1)/FEV(6) is not as sensitive as the FEV(1)/FVC for diagnosing airways obstruction, but in the presence of a normal FEV(1)/FVC, subjects have greater physiologic abnormalities than when only the FEV(1)/FVC is reduced. The FEV(1)/FEV(6) ratio should not replace the FEV(1)/FVC as the standard for airways obstruction, but there is benefit including this measurement to identify individuals with greater air trapping and diffusion abnormalities.
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Comparative Study
Case identification of subjects with airflow limitations using the handheld spirometer "Hi-Checker™" : comparison against an electronic desktop spirometer.
Systematic case identification has been proposed as a strategy to improve diagnosis rates and to enable the early detection of subjects with COPD. We hypothesized that case identification could be possible using the handheld spirometer Hi-Checker™. ⋯ Although the Hi-Checker™ estimates resembled those from conventional spirometry, it should be emphasized that the two methods did not produce identical results due to random measurement error. Although one must be careful about overinterpreting these results, since the Hi-Checker™ is small and inexpensive, it could make a significant contribution in facilitating the case selection of patients with airflow limitation.
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COPD is a multicomponent disease and systemic inflammation represents one of the possible mechanisms responsible for its systemic manifestations, including skeletal muscle weakness and cachexia. Fat-free mass index (FFMI) that reflects the skeletal muscle mass, has been shown to be associated with both dyspnoea and exercise capacity. We hypothesized that the multidimensional BODE index, that reflects the multicomponent nature of COPD, might be related to biomarkers of systemic inflammation. We further evaluated associations between FFMI and systemic inflammation. ⋯ Both BODE index and FFMI, are related to the circulating levels of leptin in patients with COPD, suggesting a possible role for leptin in the systemic component of COPD. The additional association of FFMI with TNF-α may further support a role of systemic inflammation in muscle wasting in COPD.
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A relationship between local and systemic inflammation and different co-morbidities, such as cardiovascular, has been discussed in relation to disease process and prognosis in COPD. ⋯ Co-morbid conditions such as cardiovascular disease, chronic rhinitis and gastroesophageal reflux were common in COPD. The overlap between heart disease, chronic rhinitis and GERD was large in COPD. Restrictive lung function did also identify a population with increased disease burden.
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Recent studies have shown strong associations between chronic exercise and improved spirometric values. Building on these findings, we investigated whether habitual lifetime exercise influences six-minute walk test performance (6MWT) in subjects with at least 10 pack-years smoking history. The 6MWT was chosen for its correlation with performance on activities of daily living and predictive value for inactivity, morbidity and mortality in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) versus spirometric values, which are less adept at predicting functional status. ⋯ Pack-years was a significant covariate: subjects who smoked less walked farther distances. No relation was found between exercise and predicted FEV(1)%. In summary, our case-control study suggests that meeting even half of ACSM exercise guidelines could improve functional status in smokers if habitual exercise is adopted early in life.