Irene Torres-Sánchez

Cognitive impairment in COPD: a systematic review

The objectives of this study were to characterize and clarify the relationships between the various cognitive domains affected in COPD patients and the disease itself, as well as to determine the prevalence of impairment in the various cognitive domains in such patients. To that end, we performed a systematic review using the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect. We included articles that provided information on cognitive impairment in COPD patients. The review of the findings of the articles showed a significant relationship between COPD and cognitive impairment. The most widely studied cognitive domains are memory and attention. Verbal memory and learning constitute the second most commonly impaired cognitive domain in patients with COPD. The prevalence of impairment in visuospatial memory and intermediate visual memory is 26.9% and 19.2%, respectively. We found that cognitive impairment is associated with the profile of COPD severity and its comorbidities. The articles reviewed demonstrated that there is considerable impairment of the cognitive domains memory and attention in patients with COPD. Future studies should address impairments in different cognitive domains according to the disease stage in patients with COPD.

Physical Activity as a Predictor of Absence of Frailty in Subjects With Stable COPD and COPD Exacerbation

BACKGROUND: Frailty is a key issue in the care of elderly patients. Patients with COPD are more likely to be frail, with a prevalence of 57.8%. Frailty is associated with a low level of physical activity. The aim of this study was to analyze the predictive power and identify the cutoffs of physical activity in their different domains (household, leisure time, and sport) for the absence of frailty in subjects with COPD exacerbation and stable COPD. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted. The participants underwent an individual interview, including sociodemographic and clinical aspects. The total physical activity and its domains were assessed by the modified Baecke questionnaire, and frailty was measured according to the modified version of Fried. A total of 212 subjects with COPD (104 stable and 108 with COPD exacerbation) were enrolled, along with 100 healthy subjects. RESULTS: The prevalence of frailty was higher in subjects with COPD compared with the control group. An activity level of 3.54 for COPD exacerbation, 3.88 for stable COPD, and 3.50 for healthy subjects assessed using the Baecke questionnaire were recommended as the cutoff points for frailty. Sensitivity and specificity values were 0.95 and 0.807; 0.95 and 0.815; and 0.95 and 0.947, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Physical activity level can predict the absence or presence of frailty in subjects with stable and exacerbated COPD.

Effects of a Single Hand–Exercise Session on Manual Dexterity and Strength in Persons with Parkinson Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial

To evaluate the effects on manual dexterity, hand grip, and pinch strength of a single intervention focused on hand exercises.

Results of a Multimodal Program During Hospitalization in Obese COPD Exacerbated Patients

The objective of this study was to analyze the results of a multimodal therapeutic program during hospitalization in obese AECOPD patients. This was a randomized, single-blind clinical trial conducted at two university hospitals in Granada, Spain. Forty-nine patients hospitalized due to AECOPD were randomly allocated to a control group (CG), in which patients received standard care, or to an intervention group (IG), in which patients were included in a multimodal therapeutic program, added to the standard care. The main outcome measures were pulmonary, physical (strength and exercise capacity) and perceived (dyspnea, quality of life and psychological distress) variables. Within-group significant improvements (p < 0.05) were found in physical and perceived variables in the IG after the treatment. In the CG, a significant decrease was found in lower limb strength and a significant improvement in dyspnea and in three subscales of the EuroQol-5D questionnaire. The between-groups analysis showed significant differences after the treatment on lower limb strength and exercise capacity values (p < 0.05), in three of the EuroQol-5D subscales, and in the total score and the depression subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. A multimodal therapeutic program has a beneficial effect on physical functioning and perceived variables in hospitalized obese patients with AECOPD.

Estudio del deterioro psicofísico y funcional en pacientes ingresados con neumonía. Análisis por grupos de edad

INTRODUCTION Hospital admissions due to pneumonia range from 1.1 to 4 per 1,000 patients and this figure increases with age. Hospitalization causes a decline in functional status. Physical impairment impedes recovery and constitutes a higher risk of disability and mortality in elderly people. The objective of this study is to assess the impact of hospital stay in patients with pneumonia related with age. METHOD A total of 116 patients with pneumonia were included in this study, and divided into two age groups:<75 years (n=68) and ≥ 75 years (n=48). Respiratory function, physical function and psychological and emotional profile were evaluated. Pneumonia severity, nutritional status, independence and comorbidities were also assessed. RESULTS Statistical analyses revealed significant differences between both age groups in pneumonia severity and comorbidities. Significant improvements between admission and discharge were found in lung function in both groups (p<0.05), while a significant decrease (p<0.05) in strength assessed by dynamometer was found in the ≥75 years group. CONCLUSION Hospitalization leads to a significant physical impairment in patients admitted for pneumonia. This deterioration increases with age.

Acute Effects of Contract-Relax Stretching vs. TENS in Young Subjects With Anterior Knee Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract Valenza, MC, Torres-Sánchez, I, Cabrera-Martos, I, Valenza-Demet, G, and Cano-Cappellacci, M. Acute effects of contract-relax stretching vs. TENS in young subjects with anterior knee pain: A randomized controlled trial. J Strength Cond Res 30(8): 2271–2278, 2016—The aim of this study was to examine the immediate effects on pressure point tenderness, range of motion (ROM), and vertical jump (VJ) of contract-relax stretching vs. transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy in individuals with anterior knee pain (AKP). Eighty-four subjects with AKP were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 different intervention groups: a contract-relax stretching group (n = 28), a TENS intervention group (n = 28), and a control group (n = 28). The participants included in the sample were both sex (37.5% men vs. 62.5% women) at a mean age of 21 years, with mean values of height and weight of 169 cm and 64 kg, respectively. The main outcome measures were knee ROM, pressure pain threshold (PPT), and VJ. The participants were assessed at baseline and immediately after treatment. In the case of VJ, at baseline, immediately after the intervention, at 3 and at 6 minutes posttreatment. The data analysis showed that PPT scores of participants in the stretching and TENS group significantly increased from pretest to posttest (p ⩽ 0.05). A significant increase pre- to posttreatment in ROM (p < 0.001) was also observed in both treatment groups. In VJ measures, TENS and stretching groups showed significant differences between preintervention and all postintervention values (p ⩽ 0.05), whereas no significant differences were found in the control group. In conclusion, the results show significant pre-to-post-treatment effects in PPT, ROM, and VJ from both contract-relax stretching and TENS in young subjects with AKP.

Deterioro cognitivo, estado nutricional y perfil clínico en la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica

INTRODUCTION Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive disease with a prevalence that increases with the aging of the subject. It presents a high prevalence of comorbidities, such as cognitive decline, which is gaining great clinical relevance in recent years. Factors such as pulmonary function, hypoxemia, hypercapnia or exacerbations contribute to the decline of cognitive functions. The nutritional status has been added to these factors as contributing to cognitive function decline when presenting in COPD. OBJECTIVE To evidence the relationship between cognitive decline, nutritional status and the clinical profile of patients admitted because of an acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD). METHODS 110 subjects hospitalized because of COPD, divided in two groups according to their nutritional status and assessment of cognitive decline at admittance, nutritional status and clinical profile. RESULTS Significant differences between groups concerning nutritional status in anthropometric variables (sex and IMC), functional ability (Barthel index and Daily Life Activities Scale), quality of life (Euroqol- 5D y SGRQ), sleep quality (Pittsburgh), mood (HAD) and cognitive decline (MoCa attention, MoCa abstraction). (p<0.05). CONCLUSION Cognitive function is affected in COPD patients with an altered nutritional status when compared to those with a normal nutritional status. The nutritional decline is a factor contributing to the impairment of cognitive functions in this kind of patients, particularly a decline in attention and abstraction ability.

Physical and Functional Impairment During and After Hospitalization in Subjects With Severe COPD Exacerbation.

BACKGROUND: COPD exacerbations are frequent events that have a negative impact on the lives of patients. The aims of this study were to analyze physical and functional impairment during hospital stay in subjects hospitalized due to COPD exacerbation and to assess the physical and functional impact of hospitalization at a 1-month follow-up in patients with severe COPD. METHODS: This was a prospective observational study on a sample of 52 subjects hospitalized due to COPD exacerbation. The assessments were performed at baseline, discharge, and 1-month follow-up. The outcome measures were dyspnea, muscle strength, functional capacity, and postural steadiness. RESULTS: Quadriceps strength [1.036 (P = .043) kg mean difference] and the one-leg stance test [1.04 (P = .02) and 0.73 (P = .032) s mean difference right and left leg] showed significant impairment during hospitalization. Dyspnea perception improved significantly (P = .004) during hospitalization. Additionally, strength in the upper and lower limbs [4.04 (P = .002) and 1.23 (P = .038) kg mean difference], functional capacity [3.0 number of steps mean difference (P = .032)], and the one-leg stance test [2.12 (P = .006) and 0.53 (P = .047) s mean difference right and left leg] showed significant impairment 1-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Hospitalization due to COPD exacerbation leads to physical and functional impairment in patients; impairment is greater at 1-month follow-up. It would be interesting to conduct physical therapy interventions to prevent the impairment.

Effects of diaphragm stretching on posterior chain muscle kinematics and rib cage and abdominal excursion: a randomized controlled trial

ABSTRACT Background Few studies have explored the effects of stretching techniques on diaphragm and spine kinematics. Objective To determine whether the application of diaphragm stretching resulted in changes in posterior chain muscle kinematics and ribcage and abdominal excursion in healthy subjects. Method Eighty healthy adults were included in this randomized clinical trial. Participants were randomized into two groups: the experimental group, which received a diaphragmatic stretching technique, or the placebo group, which received a sham-ultrasound procedure. The duration of the technique, the position of participants, and the therapist who applied the technique were the same for both treatments. Participant assessment (cervical range of movement, lumbar flexibility, flexibility of the posterior chain, and rib cage and abdominal excursion) was performed at baseline and immediately after the intervention by a blinded assessor. Results The mean between-group difference [95% CI] for the ribcage excursion after technique at xiphoid level was 2.48 [0.97 to 3.99], which shows significant differences in this outcome. The remaining between-group analysis showed significant differences in cervical extension, right and left flexion, flexibility of the posterior chain, and ribcage excursion at xiphoid level (p<0.05) in favor of the experimental group. Conclusion Diaphragm stretching generates a significant improvement in cervical extension, right and left cervical flexion, flexibility of the posterior chain, and ribcage excursion at xiphoid level compared to a placebo technique in healthy adults.

Changes in Cognitive Status in COPD Patients Across Clinical Stages

Abstract Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive disease, its prevalence increases with age. COPD is frequently associated with co-morbidities such as cognitive impairment, and their clinical relevance has risen in the recent past. Cognitive function may fluctuate with the variable components of COPD like hypoxaemia, hypercapnia, lung function, exacerbations or severity of the disease. The objectives of this study were to examine whether the cognitive status of COPD patients is different across clinical stages (exacerbation, at discharge and stable COPD) and also if there are cognitive areas that have more potential to change than others. Prospective observational clinical study: 62 patients admitted to hospital due to acute exacerbation of COPD were evaluated at hospital admission; 61 at discharge; and finally, 48 patients with stable COPD completed the study and were included in the analysis. Cognitive status was assessed with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Our results show that all clinical variables improved from exacerbation to discharge COPD. MoCA total score, visuoconstructional, attention, language, abstraction, delayed recall and orientation subscores improved significantly from exacerbation to discharge COPD (p < 0.05). MoCA total score, visuoconstructional and naming subscores worsened significantly from discharge to stable COPD (p < 0.05). Finally, from exacerbation to stable COPD all the clinical variables improved; MoCA total score and naming, attention, language, abstraction and delayed recall subscores have shown significant differences (p < 0.05). Cognitive status of COPD patients is different across clinical stages, and there are cognitive areas with more potential to change than others.