Resting handgrip force and impaired cardiac function at rest and during exercise in COPD patients

SummaryBackgroundCardiac function measured as the oxygen pulse (O2 pulse) is impaired during exercise (CPET) in patients with COPD. We investigated the relationship between handgrip force and O2 pulse in COPD and controls.MethodsWe measured anthropometrics, lung function, respiratory muscle force, handgrip (HG) force and fat free mass (FFM) at rest in 18 men with COPD (FEV1 % = 45 ± 20) and 15 controls. We then performed a symptom limited cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) with similar load and used heart rate, and oxygen pulse (VO2/HR) to express cardiac function at rest and during exercise. We corrected the O2 pulse by FFM.ResultsPatients and controls were similar in BMI and FFM. COPD patients had lower handgrip (37.8 ± 7 vs. 55 ± 2) kg. O2 pulse and HG were associated (r = 0.665). At rest, COPD patients had faster heart rate (76 ± 11 vs. 61 ± 5) and lower oxygen pulse. COPD patients had lower oxygen pulse mL/beat at exercise isotime (10.6 ± 3.7 vs. 14.3 ± 2.7), even adjusted by muscle mass.ConclusionHandgrip is associated with impaired heart function at rest and during exercise in COPD patients even adjusting for muscle mass differences. Lower handgrip may be a marker of impaired cardiac function in COPD patients.