Quality Of Life, Fatigue, Changes In Insulin Like Growth Factor 1, Bone Mineral Density And Muscle Mass In Elderly Patients With COPD

Abstract

COPD is a common preventable and treatable disease, characterized by persistent airflow limitation that is usually progressive and associated with an enhanced chronic inflammatory response in the airways and the lung to noxious particles or gases. Exacerbations and comorbidities contribute to the overall severity in individual patients. COPD is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and results in an economic and social burden that is both substantial and increasing. A clinical diagnosis of COPD should be considered in any patient who has dyspnea, chronic cough or sputum production, and/or a history of exposure to risk factors for the disease. The diagnosis should be confirmed by spirometry. The presence of a post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC < 0.70 and FEV1 < 80% predicted confirms the presence of airflow limitation that is not fully reversible. Extra-pulmonary comorbidities are common and significant in COPD and often contribute to symptoms, exacerbations, hospital admissions and mortality. IGFs circulating in blood are low molecular weight peptides produced largely by hepatocytes under the influence of Growth Hormone and share homology with insulin. Growth hormone provides stimulation of musc