Skeletal muscle function indicators associated with physical frailty in patients hospitalised with an acute exacerbation of COPD

<bold>Introduction:</bold> Physical frailty is associated with increased exacerbation frequency and a greater risk of all-cause mortality in COPD. The aim of this study was to identify muscle function indicators associated with physical frailty in patients admitted to hospital with an acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD). <bold>Methods:</bold> Individuals hospitalised with AECOPD were recruited to the study in Leicester, UK. Frailty was determined using the Rockwood Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) (≥5). Hand grip strength (HGS), ultrasound quadriceps muscle thickness (Q-T), and 4-metre gait speed (4-MGS) were measured. Linear regression analysis was performed with frailty as the outcome variable and muscle function and quantity measures as predictors. Confounding variables of age, sex and BMI were also added to the model. <bold>Results:</bold> 103 participants (55.3% female; mean age: 71 years ± 10 years) were analysed. Overall, 36 (35.0%) individuals were categorised as frail and 67 (65.0%) were robust. Those with frailty had lower HGS, slower 4-MGS, and reduced QT. When controlling for all other measures, 4-MGS (OR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.34 – 0.80) was significantly associated with the presence of frailty. HGS (P = 0.610) and Q-T (P = 0.099) were not. <bold>Conclusion:</bold> The significant association of 4-MGS with frailty underscores its clinical importance as a primary screening tool for identifying physical frailty in patients with AECOPD. <fig><object-id>erj;64/suppl_68/PA3890/F1</object-id><object-id>F1</object-id><object-id>F1</object-id><graphic></graphic></fig>