Author(s): Katayoun Samadi, Shahram Kharabian, Atefeh Abedini, Foroogh Mohammadi, Azam Adeli, Niloofar Jafarigahraz, Babak Sharif Kashani
Background: Sarcopenia is defined as loss of muscle mass with attendant loss of muscle strength and physical function and is associated with advancing age. Inflammatory condition of chronic disease leads to more rapid progression of this syndrome, which may adversely affect quality of life. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and sarcopenia. Methods: This study included 108 COPD patients who were treated in the pulmonary clinic at Masih Daneshvari Hospital. Patients were categorized into three groups based on Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease criteria. Sarcopenic parameters including muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance were measured by Bioimpedance Analysis, hand grip dynamometer, and the Short Physical Performance Battery test, respectively. According to the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People cutoff points and the definition of sarcopenic obesity, sarcopenic patients were diagnosed and categorized based on different COPD severity scores. Results: The relationship between sarcopenia and COPD grading, which was assessed using multiple regression models with adjustment of confounding factors, including age, chronic diseases, and smoking, was statistically insignificant. However, by using forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) or ratio of FEV1 to forced vital capacity in this model, the results were significant (P = 0.026). A positive linear correlation was observed between skeletal muscle index (SMI) and spirometric data, which was assessed by Spearman?s correlation test. By exploring the association between sarcopenia and obesity with the one-way analysis of variance test, sarcopenic patients represented to have the minimal spirometric measures. However, this difference was only significant for actual measurements. Conclusion: This study showed that sarcopenic COPD patients had smaller spirometric measurements and that sarcopenia and magnitude of SMI were positively correlated with obstruction severity