Anelise Bauer Munari

Reproducibility of Ventilatory Parameters, Dynamic Hyperinflation, and Performance in the Glittre-ADL Test in COPD Patients

ABSTRACT Background: This study aimed to investigate the reproducibility of the ventilatory parameters and dynamic hyperinflation (DH) induced by the Glittre ADL-test (TGlittre) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Methods: Twenty-three patients with COPD underwent anthropometry, spirometry, TGlittre (TGlittre1 and TGlittre2) and pre- and post-test slow vital capacity. During the tests the ventilatory response was evaluated. Results: Regarding the TGlittre reproducibility, 87% of patients had a better performance in TGlittre2, and reduced on average 0.34 minute ± 0.62 (p = 0.01) from TGlittre1 time to TGlittre2, showing a learning effect of 6.34%. The difference average between tests was correlated with the time spent in TGlittre1 (r = −0.52; p < 0.05). The TGlittre time was statistically reproducible (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.97; p < 0.001). Final ventilation parameters and their variations presented low-to-high reproducibility, except respiratory rate. The DH was similar (p > 0.05) in both tests, with low reproducibility in percentage, while in liters it was not reproducible. Conclusions: The TGlittre time and ventilatory parameters are reproducible, while DH is variable in COPD patients. A 6−7% learning effect was shown, and it is recommended to perform two tests.

Does the COPD assessment test reflect functional status in patients with COPD

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) assessment test (CAT) reflects the functional status of patients with COPD. Forty-seven patients underwent anthropometric assessment, spirometry, the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), the Glittre-activity of daily living (ADL) test (TGlittre), the London Chest ADL (LCADL) scale, and the CAT. The total score of the CAT correlated with 6MWT distance, TGlittre time spent, and LCADL%total (r = −0.56, 0.52, and 0.78, respectively; p < 0.05 for all). There was significant difference in 6MWT distance (490 ± 85.4 m vs. 387 ± 56.8 m), TGlittre time spent (3.67 ± 1.07 min vs. 5.03 ± 1.32 min), and LCADL%total (24.2 ± 3.02% vs. 44.4 ± 13.3%) between the low and high impacts of COPD on health status (respectively, p < 0.05 for all) as well as in the LCADL%total between medium and high impact of COPD on health status (31.3 ± 7.35% vs. 44.4 ± 13.3%; p = 0.001). In conclusion, the CAT reflects the functional status of patients with COPD.

Ventilatory demand and dynamic hyperinflation induced during ADL-based tests in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease patients

ABSTRACT Background Airflow limitation frequently leads to the interruption of activities of daily living (ADL) in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). These patients commonly show absence of ventilatory reserve, reduced inspiratory reserve volume, and dynamic hyperinflation (DH). Objective To investigate ventilatory response and DH induced by three ADL-based protocols in COPD patients and compare them to healthy subjects. Method Cross-sectional study. COPD group: 23 patients (65±6 years, FEV1 37.2±15.4%pred); control group: 14 healthy subjects (64±4 years) matched for age, sex, and body mass index. Both groups performed all three tests: Glittre-ADL test; an activity test that involved moving objects on a shelf (TSHELF); and a modified shelf protocol isolating activity with upper limbs (TSHELF-M). Ventilatory response and inspiratory capacity were evaluated. Results Baseline ventilatory variables were similar between groups (p>0.05). The ventilatory demand increased and the inspiratory capacity decreased significantly at the end of the tests in the COPD group. Ventilatory demand and DH were higher (p<0.05) in the TSHELF than in the TSHELF–M in the COPD group (p<0.05). There were no differences in DH between the three tests in the control group (p>0.05) and ventilatory demand increased at the end of the tests (p<0.05) but to a lower extent than the COPD group. Conclusion The TSHELF induces similar ventilatory responses to the Glittre-ADL test in COPD patients with higher ventilatory demand and DH. In contrast, the ventilatory response was attenuated in the TSHELF-M, suggesting that squatting and bending down during the Glittre-ADL test could trigger significant ventilatory overload.

Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale in GOLD Classification Better Reflects Physical Activities of Daily Living

BACKGROUND: In multidimensional Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) classification, the choice of the symptom assessment instrument (modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale [mMRC] or COPD assessment test [CAT]) can lead to a different distribution of patients in each quadrant. Considering that physical activities of daily living (PADL) is an important functional outcome in COPD, the objective of this study was to determine which symptom assessment instrument is more strongly associated with and differentiates better the PADL of patients with COPD. METHODS: The study included 115 subjects with COPD (GOLD 2–4), who were submitted to spirometry, the mMRC, the CAT, and monitoring of PADL (triaxial accelerometer). Subjects were divided into 2 groups using the cutoffs proposed by the multidimensional GOLD classification: mMRC < 2 and ≥ 2 and CAT < 10 and ≥ 10. RESULTS: Both mMRC and CAT reflected the PADL of COPD subjects. Subjects with mMRC < 2 and CAT < 10 spent less time in physical activities < 1.5 metabolic equivalents of task (METs) (mean of the difference [95% CI] = −62.9 [−94.4 to −31.4], P < .001 vs −71.0 [−116 to −25.9], P = .002) and had a higher number of steps (3,076 [1,999–4,153], P < .001 vs 2,688 [1,042–4,333], P = .002) than subjects with mMRC > 2 and CAT > 10, respectively. Physical activities ≥ 3 METs differed only between mMRC < 2 and mMRC ≥ 2 (39.2 [18.8–59.6], P < .001). Furthermore, only the mMRC was able to predict the PADL alone (time active, r2 = 0.16; time sedentary, r2 = 0.12; time ≥ 3 METs, r2 = 0.12) and associated with lung function (number of steps, r2 = 0.35; walking time, r2 = 0.37; time < 1.5 METs, r2 = 0.25). CONCLUSIONS: The mMRC should be adopted as the classification criterion for symptom assessment in the GOLD ABCD system when focusing on PADL.

The Glittre-ADL Test Cut-Off Point to Discriminate Abnormal Functional Capacity in Patients with COPD

ABSTRACT The study objective was to determine a cut-off point for the Glittre activities of daily living (ADL)test (TGlittre) to discriminate patients with normal and abnormal functional capacity. Fifty-nine patients with moderate to very severe COPD (45 males; 65 ± 8.84 years; BMI: 26 ± 4.78 kg/m2; FEV1: 35.3 ± 13.4% pred) were evaluated for spirometry, TGlittre, 6-minute walk test (6 MWT), physical ADL, modified Medical Research Council scale (mMRC), BODE index, Saint Georges Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), and COPD Assessment Test (CAT). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the cut-off point for TGlittre in order to discriminate patients with 6 MWT < 82% pred. The ROC curve indicated a cut-off point of 3.5 minutes for the TGlittre (sensitivity = 92%, specificity = 83%, and area under the ROC curve = 0.95 [95% CI: 0.89–0.99]). Patients with abnormal functional capacity had higher mMRC (median difference 1 point), CAT (mean difference: 4.5 points), SGRQ (mean difference: 12.1 points), and BODE (1.37 points) scores, longer time of physical activity <1.5 metabolic equivalent of task (mean difference: 47.9 minutes) and in sitting position (mean difference: 59.4 minutes) and smaller number of steps (mean difference: 1,549 minutes); p < 0.05 for all. In conclusion, the cut-off point of 3.5 minutes in the TGlittre is sensitive and specific to distinguish COPD patients with abnormal and normal functional capacity.

Glittre-ADL Multiple Tasks Induce Similar Dynamic Hyperinflation With Different Metabolic and Ventilatory Demands in Patients With COPD

Purpose: This cross-sectional study compared the physiological responses and dynamic hyperinflation (DH) of the Glittre-ADL test (TGlittre) and its specific tasks in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: Thirty patients with COPD performed the TGlittre. The individual tasks included stand up and sit down (TSS); climb up and down stairs (TSTAIRS); walk on a flat surface (TWALK); and move objects onto and off a shelf (TSHELF). While performing these tasks, the physiological responses were evaluated and inspiratory capacity measured before and immediately after the tests. Results: All physiological variables and inspiratory capacity were different at the end of the TGlittre and its tasks compared with baseline (P < .05). For most of the physiological variables, there were no significant differences between TSHELF and TWALK (P > .05), which were the tasks with the greatest physiological requirement, whereas the TSS represented the lowest metabolic, cardiovascular, and ventilatory demands among TGlittres tasks. DH did not differ significantly among TGlittres tasks. Conclusions: TWALK and TSHELF were the tasks that resulted in greater physiological overload, whereas TSS induced the lowest metabolic and ventilatory demands. Despite this, DH did not differ among the TGlittres tasks in patients with COPD.