THE RELATIONSHIP OF EXERCISE CAPACITY WITH FAT-FREE MASS AND BODY MASS INDEX IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE

Abstract

Introduction: Skeletal muscle weakness is a major systemic manifestation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Loss of muscle mass contributes to impaired exercise capacity and peripheral muscle weakness and manifests as reduced fat-free mass in patients with COPD. This study aimed to examine the effects of fat-free mass, body mass index and airway obstruction severity on exercise capacity. Materials and Method: This study included 70 patients with COPD and 70 healthy individuals. Patients with COPD were divided into two groups: non-severe (GOLD Stage 1,2) and severe (GOLD Stage 2,3). Body mass index, fat-free mass, fat mass and percentage fat mass were measured, and pulmonary function tests were performed for all participants. The sixminute walk test was used as an index of exercise capacity. The Student's t-test, chi-square test and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used to compare study parameters. Results: The average fat mass, percentage fat mass and six-minute walk test were reduced in the COPD cohort. No significant correlations were found between the six-minute walk test and body mass index, fat-free mass, fat mass and percentage fat mass. A significant correlation was found between the six-minute walk test and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV1/FVC in patients with non-severe COPD. Conclusion: Exercise capacity is significantly reduced in patients with COPD.The significant relationship between the six-minute walk test score and pulmonary function test variables indicates that disease-related obstruction affects exercise capacity.