Skeletal muscle is associated with exercise tolerance evaluated by cardiopulmonary exercise testing in Japanese patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract Decreasing exercise tolerance is one of the key features related to a poor prognosis in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Cardiopulmonary testing (CPET) useful for evaluating tolerance. The present study was performed clarify correlation between and clinical parameters, focusing especially on cross-sectional area (CSA) skeletal muscle. investigated 69 COPD who underwent CPET. correlations oxygen uptake ( $${{\dot{\text{V}} \text{O}}}_{2}$$ V ? O 2 ) at peak parameters COPD, including muscle measured using single-section axial computed tomography (CT), were evaluated. assessment test score (? = ? 0.35, p 0.02) weakly correlated exercise. In addition, forced expiratory volume second (FEV 1 0.39, 0.0009), FEV /forced vital capacity 0.33, 0.006), CSA pectoralis muscles (PMs) 0.36, 0.007) erector spinae (ECMs) 0.003) Multivariate analysis adjusted by age indicated that PM after adjustment (? value [95% confidence interval] 0.175 [0.03–0.319], 0.02). ECM tended be correlated, but not significantly (0.192 [? 0.001–0.385] 0.052). test, , /FVC,