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

Background: Cardiac function measured as the oxygen pulse (O-2 pulse) is impaired during exercise (CPET) in patients with COPD. We investigated the relationship between handgrip force and 02 pulse in COPD and controls. Methods: We 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 O-2 pulse by FFM. Results: Patients and controls were similar in BMI and FFM. COPD patients had lower handgrip (37.8 +/- 7 vs. 55 +/- 2) kg. O-2 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. Conclusion: Handgrip 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. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.