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Anemia, hemoglobin level decrease exercise capacity, QOL in patients with COPD

Anemia reduces exercise capacity and negatively impacts quality of life in patients with COPD, according to study results.

Marcello Ferrari, MD, department of medicine, University of Verona in Italy, and colleagues conducted a retrospective analysis of 105 patients with COPD who attended the university’s outpatient clinic from January 2013 to December 2013. The researchers assessed the prevalence of anemia and the association of hemoglobin level with shortness of breath, exercise capacity and health-related quality of life among the cohort.

Anemia was present in 12.3% of the patients, and 6.7% had polycythemia. Patients with anemia had more severe COPD in terms of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (P < .0001). They also had greater mean Medical Research Council dyspnea scores (2.8 vs. 1.6; P = .002), shorter mean 6-minute walking distance (267.9 vs. 373; P = .001), and lower peak VO₂ results (0.9 vs. 1.2; P = .011) than patients without anemia.

Patients with anemia also had a higher Saint George’s Respiratory Questionnaire score (P = .005), and the researchers said a linear relationship existed between decreasing hemoglobin levels and increasing dyspnea, along with reductions in QOL and exercise capacity.

The researchers speculated that anemia may play an important role in the reduction of exercise capacity and quality of life in patients with COPD.

“It may also be hypothesized that anemia produces fatigue through a reduced muscle oxygenation, which in turn would lead to a decrease in physical activity, and consequently to a deterioration of psychosocial function,” the researchers wrote.

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.