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Body composition, muscle function, and physical performance in fibrotic interstitial lung disease: a prospective cohort study

S. Guler, S. Hur, S. Lear, P. Camp, C. Ryerson

Respiratory Research, 2019

40 participants · 54 citations

Abstract

BackgroundPatients with fibrotic interstitial lung disease (ILD) are frequently physically inactive and many ILD subtypes are characterized by risk factors for myopathy; however, the importance of body composition, muscle strength, and physical performance in this population is largely unknown.MethodsPatients were prospectively recruited from a specialized ILD clinic, baseline characteristics were collected from the clinical record, pulmonary function tests were performed per established protocols, and dyspnea was measured using the University of California San Diego Shortness of Breath Questionnaire. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to assess body composition; handgrip strength to determine muscle strength, and 4-m gait speed to measure physical performance.ResultsOne hundred and fifteen patients with fibrotic ILD including 40 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis were recruited. The mean age was 69+/− 10 years in men (62% of the cohort), and 66+/− 9 years in women, with mild and moderate reduction in FVC and DLCO, respectively, for both sexes. ILD severity (measured by FVC %-predicted, DLCO %-predicted, or the Composite Physiologic Index in separate models) significantly predicted muscle mass and percent body fat including with adjustment for age, sex, and weight. ILD severity was associated with grip strength and gait speed independent from body composition.ConclusionsILD severity has an important impact on body composition, particularly in men.…

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Evidence Hub reads this as a cohort study, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 40 participants or records.

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