Individuals with COPD and frailty have increased risk of dyspnea and exacerbations: Study

A new study published in the journal of BMC Pulmonary Medicine showed that dyspnea (mMRC score 1.67), symptom load (CAT score 10.24), and exacerbations were considerably greater in frail patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Frailty is a multifaceted condition marked by a build-up of physiological deficiencies that lead to a loss of functional, cognitive, and physical reserves. A person is more susceptible to health stresses, including falls, hospital stays, and acute flare-ups of chronic illnesses, when frailty is present and worsens. 

Despite the underlying causes of frailty are many, they share characteristics with those of COPD, including endocrine dysregulation, decreased muscle mass and function, and chronic systemic inflammation. To learn more about the relationship between frailty and clinical outcomes for individuals with COPD, Mathew Cherian and team conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature.

This study reviewed MEDLINE, Cochrane Central, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Web of Science for observational studies assessing the relationship between frailty and clinical outcomes in people with COPD. The included studies evaluated dyspnea, symptom load, health-related quality of life, exacerbations, hospitalization, or death between frail and non-frail patients, diagnosed COPD by spirometry, and employed a validated frailty assessment instrument.