François Maltais, Marc Decramer, Richard Casaburi, Esther Barreiro, Yan Burelle, Richard Debigaré, P N Richard Dekhuijzen, Frits Franssen, Ghislaine Gayan-Ramirez, Joaquim Gea, Harry R Gosker, Rik Gosselink, Maurice Hayot, Sabah N A Hussain, Wim Janssens, Micheal I Polkey, Josep Roca, Didier Saey, Annemie M W J Schols, Martijn A Spruit, Michael Steiner, Tanja Taivassalo, Thierry Troosters, Ioannis Vogiatzis, Peter D Wagner
BACKGROUND: Limb muscle dysfunction is prevalent in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and it has important clinical implications, such as reduced exercise tolerance, quality of life, and even survival. Since the previous American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society (ATS/ERS) statement on limb muscle dysfunction, important progress has been made on the characterization of this problem and on our understanding of its pathophysiology and clinical implications. PURPOSE: The purpose of this document is to update the 1999 ATS/ERS statement on limb muscle dysfunction in COPD...
May 1, 2014: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine