[Relationship between frailty and functional status in lung transplant candidates]

Abstract

Introduction: Lung transplant (LT) is one of the therapeutic options for patients with terminal respiratory diseases. It is highly important to incorporate the functional status and frailty assessment into the selection process of candidates for LT.

Objectives: Identify the prevalence of frailty in the LT waiting list. Study the relationship between frailty, functional status, Lung Allocation Score (LAS) and muscular dysfunction.

Methodology: Descriptive transversal study of patients on the waiting list for LT.

Population: 74 patients with chronic respiratory diseases assessed by the lung transplant committee and accepted to be transplanted in a university hospital in Barcelona. The outcome variables were frailty status was evaluate for SPPB test, functional capacity was evaluate for the six-minute walking test (6MWT) and muscular dysfunction. The results were analyzed with the statistical package STATA 12.

Results: Sample of 48 men and 26 women, with a median age of 56.55 years (SD 10.87. The prevalence of frailty assessed with the SPPB was 33.8% (8.1% are in frailty and 25.7% are in a state of pre-frailty). There is a relationship between the SPPB, 6MWT and maximal inspiratory pressure, but not with others force values. There is a relationship between the risk of frailty (scores below 9 in SPPB) and the meters walked in 6 but not with the LAS.

Conclusions: The risk of frailty in patients with terminal chronic respiratory diseases is high. Frailty is related with functional capacity, but not with LAS.

Keywords: Capacidad funcional; Ejercicio; Exercise; Fragilidad; Frailty; Functional capacity; Lung transplantation; Pulmonary rehabilitation; Rehabilitación pulmonar; Trasplante pulmonar.