Prevalence of sarcopenia in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: systematic review

Abstract

COPD is associated with a systemic inflammatory process that can cause sarcopenia, reduced function and muscle mass, although its frequency and intensity is not completely known in patients with this disease. OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence and methods of identifying sarcopenia in COPD through a systematic review. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Systematic review using the PICO methodology and keywords (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Sarcopenia). We included published studies that estimated the prevalence of sarcopenia in COPD. Excluding those whose method did not detail the diagnosis of sarcopenia. RESULTS: The search resulted initially in 897 articles. Of these, 877 were excluded, of which 20 were selected (15 transverse, five longitudinal, one case / control). Samples ranged from 57 to 2,582 subjects, the majority (70%) conducted on an outpatient basis. One study was population-based. The mean age was 66 years. The prevalence of sarcopenia in COPD varied (4.4% to 86.5%). The diagnostic methods used to determine muscle mass were Dual X-ray Absorptiometry, bioimpedance and reference equations. Muscle strength was estimated using manual gripping on portable dynamometers or knee flexion / extension through the isokinetic dynamometer. Functional capacity was assessed by the six-minute walk test or gait speed test. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of sarcopenia in COPD found in the studies (4.4 to 86.5%) is very variable. Influenced not only by the patient's characteristic, but also by the location, design and diagnostic method used. A standardization of methods seems to be necessary to standardize conducts in the literature.