International Journal of COPD (Jan 2019)

Is iron deficiency modulating physical activity in COPD?

  • Martín-Ontiyuelo C,
  • Rodó-Pin A,
  • Sancho-Muñoz A,
  • Martinez-Llorens JM,
  • Admetlló M,
  • Molina L,
  • Gea J,
  • Barreiro E,
  • Rodríguez Chiaradía DA

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 14
pp. 211 – 214

Abstract

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Clara Martín-Ontiyuelo,1 Anna Rodó-Pin,1 Antonio Sancho-Muñoz,1 Juana Maria Martínez-Llorens,1 Mireia Admetlló,1 Lluis Molina,2 Joaquim Gea,1 Esther Barreiro,1 Diego A Rodríguez Chiaradía1 1Pulmonology Department, Hospital del Mar, Institut Hospital del Mar d’Investigacions Mèdiques (IMIM), Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), CIBERES, (ISCiii), Barcelona, Spain; 2Cardiology Department, Hospital del Mar, Institut Hospital del Mar d’Investigacions Mèdiques (IMIM), Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain Abstract: There is evidence that iron plays a key role in the adequate functioning of skeletal muscle. While it has been demonstrated that nonanemic iron deficiency (NAID) affects exercise tolerance and response to exercise training in patients with COPD, the impact on daily physical activities (DPAs) remains unknown. Eighteen COPD patients with NAID (ferritin <100 ng/mL or ferritin 100–299 ng/mL with a transferrin saturation <20%) and 18 COPD patients without this abnormality, matched for age, gender, and the degree of airflow limitation (control group), were enrolled to the study. The primary outcome was the level of DPA assessed by accelerometers. Patients were (mean [SD]) 66 (7) years and were mostly male (70%) and former smokers (52%). Their forced expiratory volume at 1 second was 41 (16)% predicted, carbon monoxide diffusing capacity was 47 (14)% predicted and oxygen arterial pressure reached 70 (11) mmHg. DPA and the number of steps per day were lower in NAID COPD patients compared with controls (physical activity level 1.39 vs 1.59, P<0.05; and 4,402 vs 6,975 steps/day, P<0.05, respectively). The percentage of patients with increased time spent sitting per day (>6 hours) was higher in patients with NAID compared with controls (73% vs 37%, P<0.05). In addition, the percentage of patients doing moderate to vigorous physical activity per day (>3 metabolic equivalents of task, at least 30 minutes) was lower in this group (66% vs 100%, P<0.05). The presence of iron deficiency was associated with reduced DPA in COPD patients. Further studies are needed to evaluate iron reposition and their impact on the level of physical activity in these patients. Keywords: COPD, comorbidities, physical activity, iron, nutrition, chronic disease

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