Risk factors and severity of functional impairment in long COVID: a single-center experience in Croatia

Aim To determine the frequency of common symptoms in long COVID and their effect on the quality of life, and to determine the factors contributing to a more severe long COVID. Methods The study enrolled 266 patients who were either referred to long-COVID outpatient clinic or were inpatients undergoing rehabilitation. The data were collected between December 2020 and May 2021. We evaluated the symptoms experienced during acute and long COVID and comorbidities. Functional status was assessed with Post Covid Functional Status (PCFS). Results The final sample consisted of 261 patients. After acute COVID-19 period (>4 weeks), almost 80% of patients had impaired functional status. Only 21.5% reported no functional impairment (0 on PCFS scale). A higher PCFS score was associated with female sex (P<0.001) and oxygen therapy requirement during acute disease (P=0.001). However, it was not associated with having a pre-existing lung disease (P=0.749). Disease severity did not pose a risk for developing a more severe long COVID. Conclusion Women were at greater risk for developing greater functional impairment in long COVID, although we have no explanation why. Malignant disease and hypertension also presented a risk factor for greater functional impairment. More studies are warranted to determine if patients with certain lung disease are more susceptible to long COVID

Proportion of body fat and lean mass in patients with chronic obstructive disease and metabolic role of humoral factors

Uvod: Kronična opstruktivna plućna bolest (KOPB) čini vrlo kompleksnu sistemsku bolest. Debljina i kaheksija su dvije krajnosti metaboličkog poremećaja koje su karakteristične za KOPB, a povezuju se sa sistemskom upalom. Masno tkivo stvara i oslobađa proupalne i protuupalne čimbenike uključujući IL-6, TNF-α, leptin, adiponektin koji imaju važnu ulogu u regulaciji sastava tijela. Ispitanici i metode: Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je ispitati postojanje razlika u sastavu tijela (udio masnog i krtog tkiva) kod bolesnika s KOPB-om ovisno o težini bolesti i povezanost s koncentracijom humoralnih čimbenike upale (TNF-α, IL-6), adipokina (adiponektin, leptin), statusa D vitamina (25-OH D) i koštanog sustava. Ispitivanje je uključilo 108 ispitanika s KOPBom oba spola kojima je udio masnog, krtog tkiva i koštane mase određivan DEXA metodom. Rezultati: U trećine bolesnika s KOPB-om nađena je prekomjerna tjelesna težina i pretilost s posljedičnim učinkom na osobitosti sastava tijela (udjeli masnog i krtog tkiva) uz bolju koštanu masu. Hipovitaminoza D je prisutna u skoro svih bolesnika. U bolesnika oba spola s blažim stadijem KOPB-a također je bila očuvana krta tjelesna masa, a u muškaraca ujedno i koštana masa bila bolja. Leptin pozitivno korelira s tjelesnom masom i parametrima raspodjele masnog tkiva, te nekim denzitometrijskim parametrima koštane mase u oba spola. U muškaraca je blaži oblik bolesti povezan s boljim koštanim statusom, a u žena s većom krtom masom. Samo u muškaraca postoji negativna korelacija adiponektina s BMI i indeksima masnog tkiva, te koštanim statusom kuka. Učestalost osteoporoze i osteopenije je uglavnom podudaran u oba spola, ali je učestalost smanjene koštane mase za područje slabinske kralježnice znatno veća u žena nego u muškaraca u ovom istraživanju. Zaključak: KOPB je stanje koje zahvaća osim pluća, većinu organskih sustava s ozbiljnim i teškim posljedicama po mišićni i koštani sustav, a uslijed upalnog stanja pluća i sustavne upale. Poznavanje i razumijevanje povezanosti osnovne bolesti i promijenjenog sastava tijela ovih bolesnika je od velike važnosti za medicinsku skrb i prognozu ovih bolesnika.Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a very complex systemic disease. Obesity and cachexia are the two extremes of metabolic disorders that are characteristic for COPD and associated with systemic inflammation. Adipose tissue produces and releases a proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory factors, including IL-6, TNF-α, leptin, adiponectin, which play an important role in the regulation of body composition. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in body composition (ratio of fat and lean mass) in patients with COPD depending on the severity of the disease and correlation with the concentration of humoral factors of inflammation (TNF-α, IL-6), adipokines (adiponectin, leptin), the status of vitamin D (25-OH D) and skeletal system. In the study 108 patients with COPD were included. The proportion of fat, lean mass and bone mineral density were determined by DEXA. Results: Thirty percent of COPD patients were found to be overweight and obese with a consequential effects on the characteristics of body composition (fat and lean tissues) and increased bone mass density. Hypovitaminosis D is present in almost all patients. Patients of both sexes with mild-stage COPD preserved lean body mass, while in men bone mass was also better. Leptin is positively correlated with body mass, parameters of body fat distribution and some densitometric parameters of bone mass in both sexes. In men a milder form of the disease is associated with better bone status and in women with the better lean mass. Only in men there is a negative correlation of adiponectin with BMI and indexes of body fat and hip bone status. The incidence of osteoporosis and osteopenia is generally identical in both sexes, but the prevalence of reduced bone mass in the lumbar spine area is significantly higher in women than in men. Conclusion: COPD is a condition that affects lungs and also other organ systems with serious effects on muscular and skeletal system due to systemic inflammatory conditions. Knowing and understanding the relations of the underlying disease and altered body composition of these patients is of great importance to medical care and prognosis of these patients

Proportion of body fat and lean mass in patients with chronic obstructive disease and metabolic role of humoral factors

Uvod: Kronična opstruktivna plućna bolest (KOPB) čini vrlo kompleksnu sistemsku bolest. Debljina i kaheksija su dvije krajnosti metaboličkog poremećaja koje su karakteristične za KOPB, a povezuju se sa sistemskom upalom. Masno tkivo stvara i oslobađa proupalne i protuupalne čimbenike uključujući IL-6, TNF-α, leptin, adiponektin koji imaju važnu ulogu u regulaciji sastava tijela. Ispitanici i metode: Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je ispitati postojanje razlika u sastavu tijela (udio masnog i krtog tkiva) kod bolesnika s KOPB-om ovisno o težini bolesti i povezanost s koncentracijom humoralnih čimbenike upale (TNF-α, IL-6), adipokina (adiponektin, leptin), statusa D vitamina (25-OH D) i koštanog sustava. Ispitivanje je uključilo 108 ispitanika s KOPBom oba spola kojima je udio masnog, krtog tkiva i koštane mase određivan DEXA metodom. Rezultati: U trećine bolesnika s KOPB-om nađena je prekomjerna tjelesna težina i pretilost s posljedičnim učinkom na osobitosti sastava tijela (udjeli masnog i krtog tkiva) uz bolju koštanu masu. Hipovitaminoza D je prisutna u skoro svih bolesnika. U bolesnika oba spola s blažim stadijem KOPB-a također je bila očuvana krta tjelesna masa, a u muškaraca ujedno i koštana masa bila bolja. Leptin pozitivno korelira s tjelesnom masom i parametrima raspodjele masnog tkiva, te nekim denzitometrijskim parametrima koštane mase u oba spola. U muškaraca je blaži oblik bolesti povezan s boljim koštanim statusom, a u žena s većom krtom masom. Samo u muškaraca postoji negativna korelacija adiponektina s BMI i indeksima masnog tkiva, te koštanim statusom kuka. Učestalost osteoporoze i osteopenije je uglavnom podudaran u oba spola, ali je učestalost smanjene koštane mase za područje slabinske kralježnice znatno veća u žena nego u muškaraca u ovom istraživanju. Zaključak: KOPB je stanje koje zahvaća osim pluća, većinu organskih sustava s ozbiljnim i teškim posljedicama po mišićni i koštani sustav, a uslijed upalnog stanja pluća i sustavne upale. Poznavanje i razumijevanje povezanosti osnovne bolesti i promijenjenog sastava tijela ovih bolesnika je od velike važnosti za medicinsku skrb i prognozu ovih bolesnika.Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a very complex systemic disease. Obesity and cachexia are the two extremes of metabolic disorders that are characteristic for COPD and associated with systemic inflammation. Adipose tissue produces and releases a proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory factors, including IL-6, TNF-α, leptin, adiponectin, which play an important role in the regulation of body composition. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in body composition (ratio of fat and lean mass) in patients with COPD depending on the severity of the disease and correlation with the concentration of humoral factors of inflammation (TNF-α, IL-6), adipokines (adiponectin, leptin), the status of vitamin D (25-OH D) and skeletal system. In the study 108 patients with COPD were included. The proportion of fat, lean mass and bone mineral density were determined by DEXA. Results: Thirty percent of COPD patients were found to be overweight and obese with a consequential effects on the characteristics of body composition (fat and lean tissues) and increased bone mass density. Hypovitaminosis D is present in almost all patients. Patients of both sexes with mild-stage COPD preserved lean body mass, while in men bone mass was also better. Leptin is positively correlated with body mass, parameters of body fat distribution and some densitometric parameters of bone mass in both sexes. In men a milder form of the disease is associated with better bone status and in women with the better lean mass. Only in men there is a negative correlation of adiponectin with BMI and indexes of body fat and hip bone status. The incidence of osteoporosis and osteopenia is generally identical in both sexes, but the prevalence of reduced bone mass in the lumbar spine area is significantly higher in women than in men. Conclusion: COPD is a condition that affects lungs and also other organ systems with serious effects on muscular and skeletal system due to systemic inflammatory conditions. Knowing and understanding the relations of the underlying disease and altered body composition of these patients is of great importance to medical care and prognosis of these patients

Proportion of body fat and lean mass in patients with chronic obstructive disease and metabolic role of humoral factors

Uvod: Kronična opstruktivna plućna bolest (KOPB) čini vrlo kompleksnu sistemsku bolest. Debljina i kaheksija su dvije krajnosti metaboličkog poremećaja koje su karakteristične za KOPB, a povezuju se sa sistemskom upalom. Masno tkivo stvara i oslobađa proupalne i protuupalne čimbenike uključujući IL-6, TNF-α, leptin, adiponektin koji imaju važnu ulogu u regulaciji sastava tijela. Ispitanici i metode: Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je ispitati postojanje razlika u sastavu tijela (udio masnog i krtog tkiva) kod bolesnika s KOPB-om ovisno o težini bolesti i povezanost s koncentracijom humoralnih čimbenike upale (TNF-α, IL-6), adipokina (adiponektin, leptin), statusa D vitamina (25-OH D) i koštanog sustava. Ispitivanje je uključilo 108 ispitanika s KOPBom oba spola kojima je udio masnog, krtog tkiva i koštane mase određivan DEXA metodom. Rezultati: U trećine bolesnika s KOPB-om nađena je prekomjerna tjelesna težina i pretilost s posljedičnim učinkom na osobitosti sastava tijela (udjeli masnog i krtog tkiva) uz bolju koštanu masu. Hipovitaminoza D je prisutna u skoro svih bolesnika. U bolesnika oba spola s blažim stadijem KOPB-a također je bila očuvana krta tjelesna masa, a u muškaraca ujedno i koštana masa bila bolja. Leptin pozitivno korelira s tjelesnom masom i parametrima raspodjele masnog tkiva, te nekim denzitometrijskim parametrima koštane mase u oba spola. U muškaraca je blaži oblik bolesti povezan s boljim koštanim statusom, a u žena s većom krtom masom. Samo u muškaraca postoji negativna korelacija adiponektina s BMI i indeksima masnog tkiva, te koštanim statusom kuka. Učestalost osteoporoze i osteopenije je uglavnom podudaran u oba spola, ali je učestalost smanjene koštane mase za područje slabinske kralježnice znatno veća u žena nego u muškaraca u ovom istraživanju. Zaključak: KOPB je stanje koje zahvaća osim pluća, većinu organskih sustava s ozbiljnim i teškim posljedicama po mišićni i koštani sustav, a uslijed upalnog stanja pluća i sustavne upale. Poznavanje i razumijevanje povezanosti osnovne bolesti i promijenjenog sastava tijela ovih bolesnika je od velike važnosti za medicinsku skrb i prognozu ovih bolesnika.Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a very complex systemic disease. Obesity and cachexia are the two extremes of metabolic disorders that are characteristic for COPD and associated with systemic inflammation. Adipose tissue produces and releases a proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory factors, including IL-6, TNF-α, leptin, adiponectin, which play an important role in the regulation of body composition. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in body composition (ratio of fat and lean mass) in patients with COPD depending on the severity of the disease and correlation with the concentration of humoral factors of inflammation (TNF-α, IL-6), adipokines (adiponectin, leptin), the status of vitamin D (25-OH D) and skeletal system. In the study 108 patients with COPD were included. The proportion of fat, lean mass and bone mineral density were determined by DEXA. Results: Thirty percent of COPD patients were found to be overweight and obese with a consequential effects on the characteristics of body composition (fat and lean tissues) and increased bone mass density. Hypovitaminosis D is present in almost all patients. Patients of both sexes with mild-stage COPD preserved lean body mass, while in men bone mass was also better. Leptin is positively correlated with body mass, parameters of body fat distribution and some densitometric parameters of bone mass in both sexes. In men a milder form of the disease is associated with better bone status and in women with the better lean mass. Only in men there is a negative correlation of adiponectin with BMI and indexes of body fat and hip bone status. The incidence of osteoporosis and osteopenia is generally identical in both sexes, but the prevalence of reduced bone mass in the lumbar spine area is significantly higher in women than in men. Conclusion: COPD is a condition that affects lungs and also other organ systems with serious effects on muscular and skeletal system due to systemic inflammatory conditions. Knowing and understanding the relations of the underlying disease and altered body composition of these patients is of great importance to medical care and prognosis of these patients

Promjene količine masnoga i krtoga tkiva u bolesnika s kroničnom opstruktivnom bolešću i metaboličko značenje humoralnih čimbenika [Proportion of body fat and lean mass in patients with chronic obstructive disease and metabolic role of humoral factors]

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a very complex systemic disease. Obesity and cachexia are the two extremes of metabolic disorders that are characteristic for COPD and associated with systemic inflammation. Adipose tissue produces and releases a proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory factors, including IL-6, TNF-α, leptin, adiponectin, which play an important role in the regulation of body composition. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in body composition (ratio of fat and lean mass) in patients with COPD depending on the severity of the disease and correlation with the concentration of humoral factors of inflammation (TNF-α, IL-6), adipokines (adiponectin, leptin), the status of vitamin D (25-OH D) and skeletal system. In the study 108 patients with COPD were included. The proportion of fat, lean mass and bone mineral density were determined by DEXA. Results: Thirty percent of COPD patients were found to be overweight and obese with a consequential effects on the characteristics of body composition (fat and lean tissues) and increased bone mass density. Hypovitaminosis D is present in almost all patients. Patients of both sexes with mild-stage COPD preserved lean body mass, while in men bone mass was also better. Leptin is positively correlated with body mass, parameters of body fat distribution and some densitometric parameters of bone mass in both sexes. In men a milder form of the disease is associated with better bone status and in women with the better lean mass. Only in men there is a negative correlation of adiponectin with BMI and indexes of body fat and hip bone status. The incidence of osteoporosis and osteopenia is generally identical in both sexes, but the prevalence of reduced bone mass in the lumbar spine area is significantly higher in women than in men. Conclusion: COPD is a condition that affects lungs and also other organ systems with serious effects on muscular and skeletal system due to systemic inflammatory conditions. Knowing and understanding the relations of the underlying disease and altered body composition of these patients is of great importance to medical care and prognosis of these patients

Serum Leptin and Skeletal Differences between Obese and Non-Obese Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Objective: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affects body composition, adipokine secretion, and skeletal integrity. The aim was to determine the association between leptin, body mass (BM) and body composition parameters - fat mass (FM) and fat mass index (FMI), lean tissue mass (LTM), lean tissue mass index (LTMI) and bone mineral density (BMD) in 67 male COPD patients. Methods: BM, body composition and biochemical indicators were measured or calculated using standard methods. Data were analyzed according to groups: non-obese (N = 48, BMI 21.0-29.9 kg/m2) and obese (N = 19, BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m2). Results: In the non-obese group statistically significant correlations were observed: negative ones of age with most BMD T scores, positive ones of BMI with all T scores, FM, FMI, LTMI and leptin, of FMI with leptin and all T scores, and of LTMI with most T scores. In the obese group also statistically significant correlations were found: positive ones of BMI with FMI, LTM, leptin and T scores (trochanter, total hip); of FMI with leptin; and of leptin with total hip T score. Conclusion: A positive relationship between FMI and BMD was found only in non-obese but not in obese COPD patients. Leptin concentration was associated positively with the total hip T score only in obese COPD patients, suggesting its protective role on the skeleton of obese COPD patients