Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients have alterations in body composition. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) evaluates body composition, hydration status, and fluid ...distribution. Subjects with fluid disturbances have been found to have lower FEV
, respiratory muscle strength, and poor prognosis. We aimed to evaluate the effect of hydration status and fluid distribution on pulmonary function in COPD patients. A cross-sectional study, 180 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COPD were included. Patients with asthma, advanced renal or liver disease, acute HF, exacerbation of COPD, or pacemakers were excluded. Hydration status variables (TBW, ECW, ICW) and disturbance of fluid distribution impedance ratio (IR) > 0.84 and phase angle (PhA) were evaluated by BIA. Pulmonary function was assessed by spirometry. The mean population age was 71.55 ± 8.94 years; 55% were men. Subjects were divided into two groups according to the IR ≥ 0.84 or < 0.84. The group with higher IR ≥ 0.84 had lower FEV
, FVC, FEV
/FVC, DLCO and, PhA compared to those with IR < 0.84. After adjusting for confounding variables TBW, ECW, IR ≥ 0.84, PhA, and resistance/height increase were associated with decreased FEV
. In the same way, with IR ≥ 0.84, edema index ≥ 0.48, trunk and abdominal IR were negatively associated with FVC, and PhA had a positive association with FVC. Fluid distribution, especially IR and PhA, could be a useful parameter for predicting pulmonary function in COPD patients.
Abstract Objective The main purpose of the present study was to assess the prognostic value of the bioelectrical phase angle (PA) in patients with heart failure independently of other parameters of a ...poor prognosis. Methods This retrospective study included 389 patients with heart failure. Anthropometric, body composition, clinical, biochemical, and echocardiographic data were collected from all patients. The quartiles were obtained for the PA, and patients were classified according to the quartiles into four groups. The endpoint was all-cause mortality. A Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was performed to estimate the adjusted relative risks, and 95% confidence intervals were obtained for the potential predictors of death. Results Patients below the lowest quartile of PA (<4.2°) had decreased mean body mass index, handgrip strength, and hemoglobin values and a larger proportion of patients in New York Heart Association functional class III and renal failure. The Kaplan–Meier survival analysis among PA groups showed a better survival for patients above the highest quartile of PA (≥5.7°), and survival decreased as the PA decreased. The Cox regression analysis found that a PA <4.2 was an independent predictor of mortality (relative risk 3.08, 95% confidence interval 1.06–8.99), adjusting for age, hemoglobin levels, and diabetes, compared with a PA ≥5.7. Conclusion In this study population, a smaller PA was associated with malnutrition markers such as decreased body mass index, handgrip strength, and hemoglobin values and with a poor New York Heart Association functional class and renal failure. Adjusting for age, hemoglobin levels, and diabetes, a PA <4.2 was found to be an independent predictor of all-cause mortality in chronic heart failure.
Abstract Background This study explored whether the cachectic state assessed by bioimpedance vector analysis provides additional prognostic information about mortality from all causes. Methods We ...included 519 consecutive patients with stable chronic heart failure (mean age 62.5 ± 16.4 y; 286 males). Cachexia was identified in those subjects who fell outside the right lower quadrant of the reference curve of 95% on the resistance/reactance graph bioelectrical impedance vectorial analysis (BIVA)-cachexia. Clinical, anthropometric, and biochemical data were also evaluated. Results Patients with BIVA-cachexia ( n = 196, 37.8%) were older and had significantly lower ejection fraction, handgrip strength, serum albumin, total cholesterol, and triglycerides. The frequency of patients with body mass index < 20, decreased muscle strength, hypoalbuminemia, anemia, anorexia, New York Heart Association functional classes III/IV and edema, as well as creatinine levels, resistance/height, and impedance index was significantly higher in the cachexia group. During 29 ± 11 mo of follow-up, 39 (19.9%) patients with BIVA-cachexia and 38 (11.7%) patients without BIVA-cachexia ( P < 0.0001) died. Conclusions The cachectic state is an independent risk factor for mortality in chronic heart failure patients. BIVA could represent a valuable tool to assess presence of cachexia as changes in body cell mass in heart failure patients because provide information additional to weight loss.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is characterized by progressive and irreversible airflow limitation. Different factors that modify pulmonary function include age, sex, muscular strength, ...and a history of exposure to toxic agents. However, the impact of body composition compartments and sarcopenia on pulmonary function is not well-established. This study aimed to evaluate how body composition compartments and sarcopenia affect pulmonary function in COPD patients.
In a cross-sectional study, patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COPD, > 40 years old, and forced expiratory volume in the first second /forced vital capacity ratio (FEV
/FVC) < 0.70 post-bronchodilator were included. Patients with cancer, HIV, and asthma were excluded. Body composition was measured with bioelectrical impedance. Sarcopenia was defined according to EWGSOP2, and pulmonary function was assessed by spirometry.
185 patients were studied. The mean age was 72.20 ± 8.39 years; 55.14% were men. A linear regression adjusted model showed associations between body mass index, fat-free mass, skeletal muscle mass index, appendicular skeletal muscle mass index, and phase angle (PhA), and sarcopenia with FEV
(%). As regards FVC (%), PhA and exercise tolerance had positive associations.
Body composition, especially PhA, SMMI, ASMMI, and sarcopenia, has a significant impact on pulmonary function. Early detection of disturbances of these indexes enables the early application of such therapeutic strategies in COPD patients.
Abstract Objective Dietary strategies in heart failure (HF) are focused on sodium and fluid restriction to minimize the risk for acute volume overload episodes. However, the importance of dietary ...factors beyond sodium intake in the prognosis of the disease is uncertain. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association of macro- and micronutrients intake on 1-y mortality in patients with HF. Methods A secondary analysis of 203 patients with chronic HF enrolled in a randomized trial of sodium reduction was completed. Patients with a complete 3-d food record at baseline were included in this analysis (N = 118); both control and intervention arms were combined. Three-d mean dietary intake was estimated. Cox multivariable regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between dietary factors and 1-y mortality. Results Among the 118 included patients, 54% were men, median (25th–75th percentiles) age 66 y (52–75 y), median ejection fraction 45% (30%–60%), and ischemic etiology present in 49% of patients. The association with 1-y mortality was significant for both polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA; adjusted hazard ratio HR, 0.67; 95% confidence interval CI. 0.51–0.86 for intake as percentage of daily energy) and saturated fatty acids (SFA; adjusted HR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.03–1.30 for intake as percentage of daily energy). Median of intake as percentage of daily energy was 5.3% for PUFAs and 8.2% for SFAs. Conclusions Intake of PUFAs and SFAs was independently associated with 1-y all-cause mortality in patients with chronic HF. Limiting dietary SFA and increasing PUFA intake may be advisable in this population.
Post-COVID-19 syndrome is characterized by diverse symptoms and abnormalities that persist beyond 12 weeks from the onset of acute COVID-19. Severity disease has been associated with more ...musculoskeletal alterations such as muscle weakness, dyspnea, and distance walking. The aim was to evaluate the impact of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) on body composition and investigate risk factors associated with sarcopenia in post-COVID-19 patients three months after moderate or severe COVID-19 infections.
Cross-sectional study. 530 patients with PCR-confirmed diagnoses of moderate to severe COVID-19, > 18 years old, oxygen saturation ≤ 93%, PaO
/FiO
ratio < 300, who required hospitalization and were discharged were included. We excluded those who died before the follow-up visit, declined to participate, or could not be contacted.
The mean age was 53.79 ± 12.90 years. IMV subjects had lower phase angle and handgrip strength and higher impedance index, frequency of low muscle mass, and low muscle strength than those without IMV. The risk factors of sarcopenia were > 60 years of age, diabetes, obesity, IMV, and prolonged hospital stay. The multivariate model showed that age > 60 years (OR: 4.91, 95% CI: 2.26-10.63), obesity (OR: 3.73, 95% CI: 1.21-11.54), and interaction between prolonged length of hospital stay and IMV (OR: 2.92; 95% CI: 1.21-7.02) were related to a higher risk of sarcopenia.
Obesity and the interaction between prolonged length of hospital stay and IMV are associated with a higher risk of sarcopenia at 3 months after severe or moderate COVID-19 infection.
Background: The most frequent body composition alterations in post-COVID-19 syndrome include low muscle mass, dynapenia, sarcopenia, and obesity. These conditions share interconnected ...pathophysiological mechanisms that exacerbate each other. The relationship between body composition phenotypes and metabolic abnormalities in post-COVID-19 syndrome remains unclear. Objective: To evaluate the association between body composition phenotypes and insulin resistance (IR) and metabolic abnormalities in non-diabetic individuals with post-COVID-19 syndrome. Methods: A cross-sectional, single-center study involving 483 subjects with post-COVID-19 syndrome following moderate to severe acute COVID-19 requiring hospitalization. Individuals with diabetes, those who declined to participate, or those who could not be contacted were excluded. Body composition phenotypes were classified as normal weight, dynapenia, sarcopenia, dynapenic obesity, and sarcopenic obesity (SO). Results: The average age was 52.69 ± 14.75 years; of note, 67.08% were male. The prevalence of body composition phenotypes was as follows: 13.25% were of normal weight, 9.52% had dynapenia, 9.94% had sarcopenia, 43.69% had obesity, 18.84% had dynapenic obesity, and 4.76% had SO. Additionally, 58.18% had IR. Obesity (OR: 2.98, CI95%; 1.64–5.41) and dynapenic obesity (OR: 4.98, CI95%; 1.46–6.88) were associated with IR. Conclusion: The most common body composition phenotypes were obesity, dynapenic obesity, and dynapenia. Furthermore, obesity and dynapenic obesity were associated with IR in post-COVID-19 syndrome.
Background
The prognosis in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) depends, in large part, on the frequency of exacerbations. Cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure ...(HF), are the risk factors for exacerbations. However, the importance of HF type over the exacerbations in COPD patients is unknown.
Objective
To determine whether right heart failure (RHF) is an independent risk factor for severe exacerbations in patients with COPD.
Methods
A prospective cohort study of 133 patients diagnosed with COPD with a follow‐up period from 2010 to 2016. Patients with bronchial hyperreactivity, asthma, or pulmonary embolism were excluded.
Results
The mean age was 74.7 ± 8.2 years and 43.6% were men, 69.9% had severe exacerbations during follow‐up. Subjects with RHF had lower FEV1 (50.2 ± 19.9 vs 57.4 ± 16.9, P = .006) and greater incidence of stroke (15.4% vs 1.8%, P = .009) compared to those without RHF. Subjects with RHF were at higher risk of severe exacerbations (HR, 2.46; CI 95%, 1.32‐4.58, P = .005) compared to those without RHF after adjusting for confounding variables.
Conclusion
In patients with COPD, RHF is an independent risk factor for suffering severe exacerbations.
Most COVID-19 survivors report experiencing at least one persistent symptom after recovery, including sympathovagal imbalance. Relaxation techniques based on slow-paced breathing have proven to be ...beneficial for cardiovascular and respiratory dynamics in healthy subjects and patients with various diseases. Therefore, the present study aimed to explore the cardiorespiratory dynamics by linear and nonlinear analysis of photoplethysmographic and respiratory time series on COVID-19 survivors under a psychophysiological assessment that includes slow-paced breathing. We analyzed photoplethysmographic and respiratory signals of 49 COVID-19 survivors to assess breathing rate variability (BRV), pulse rate variability (PRV), and pulse-respiration quotient (PRQ) during a psychophysiological assessment. Additionally, a comorbidity-based analysis was conducted to evaluate group changes. Our results indicate that all BRV indices significantly differed when performing slow-paced breathing. Nonlinear parameters of PRV were more appropriate for identifying changes in breathing patterns than linear indices. Furthermore, the mean and standard deviation of PRQ exhibited a significant increase while sample and fuzzy entropies decreased during diaphragmatic breathing. Thus, our findings suggest that slow-paced breathing may improve the cardiorespiratory dynamics of COVID-19 survivors in the short term by enhancing cardiorespiratory coupling via increased vagal activity.
Abstract Background SARS-CoV-2 is a systemic disease that affects endothelial function and leads to coagulation disorders, increasing the risk of mortality. Blood levels of endothelial biomarkers ...such as Von Willebrand Factor (VWF), Thrombomodulin or Blood Dendritic Cell Antigen-3 (BDCA3), and uUokinase (uPA) increase in patients with severe disease and can be prognostic indicators for mortality. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of VWF, BDCA3, and uPA levels on mortality. Methods From May 2020 to January 2021, we studied a prospective cohort of hospitalized adult patients with polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed COVID-19 with a SaO2 ≤ 93% and a PaO 2 /FiO 2 ratio < 300. In-hospital survival was evaluated from admission to death or to a maximum of 60 days of follow-up with Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox proportional hazard models as independent predictor measures of endothelial dysfunction. Results We recruited a total of 165 subjects (73% men) with a median age of 57.3 ± 12.9 years. The most common comorbidities were obesity (39.7%), hypertension (35.4%) and diabetes (30.3%). Endothelial biomarkers were increased in non-survivors compared to survivors. According to the multivariate Cox proportional hazard model, those with an elevated VWF concentration ≥ 4870 pg/ml had a hazard ratio (HR) of 4.06 (95% CI: 1.32–12.5) compared to those with a lower VWF concentration adjusted for age, cerebrovascular events, enoxaparin dose, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, and bilirubin level. uPA and BDCA3 also increased mortality in patients with levels ≥ 460 pg/ml and ≥ 3600 pg/ml, respectively. Conclusion The risk of mortality in those with elevated levels of endothelial biomarkers was observable in this study.