Muscle Loss Increases Risk of Acute Exacerbations in Elderly Patients With COPD

Muscle loss is associated with an increased risk of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in patients aged >60 years, according to a study in the European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences.

The study involved 120 patients with COPD over the age of 60. Patients were divided into 2 groups, one with sarcopenia and the other without, based on the severity of sarcopenia at their initial admission. The researchers collected baseline data, including demographic information, geriatric syndromes, laboratory indicators, and body composition analysis. The patients were then followed for 1 year through outpatient visits and telephone follow-ups to track clinical characteristics, all-cause deaths, and acute exacerbations of COPD.

The study found that 52.5% of patients (63/120) were diagnosed with sarcopenia. Comparing the 2 groups, patients with sarcopenia exhibited worse lung function, more severe geriatric syndromes, and higher incidence ratios of somnipathy and frailty. Additionally, patients with sarcopenia displayed worse muscle indicators and deteriorated body composition.

Multivariate analysis revealed that the occurrence of sarcopenia in elderly patients with COPD was significantly correlated with several factors, including forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), body mass index (BMI), and hemoglobin levels. Specifically, lower FEV1, lower BMI, and lower hemoglobin levels were associated with a higher risk of developing sarcopenia.

Furthermore, the study’s proportional hazards model regression analysis indicated a strong association between sarcopenia and acute exacerbations of COPD within the 1-year follow-up period. Patients with sarcopenia were 2.4 times more likely to experience acute exacerbations compared with patients without sarcopenia.

The investigators noted that, as the occurrence of sarcopenia in elderly individuals with COPD is linked to factors such as FEV1, BMI, and hemoglobin levels, diligent monitoring of these indicators is crucial for the early detection of sarcopenia.