Bodybox 5500

Fifty-four stable COPD patients, as defined by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines, were included in our study with the diagnosis confirmed by plethysmography (Body Box  5500, Medisoft, Belgium). The parameters evaluated during plethysmography were compared with normal values [22 (link)] and the diagnosis of COPD was especially based on a postbronchodilator forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁)/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio below 70% of theoretical FEV₁/FVC [1 (link)]. Exclusion criteria were the presence of exacerbations within the last month, unstabilized disease (e.g., cardiac, inflammatory, and neuromuscular), disability that could modulate OS and limit exercise capacity, antioxidant supplementation (vitamins, trace elements, etc.), and use of drugs such as allopurinol and N-acetylcysteine within the last month or use of oral corticosteroids over the last six months. All had been referred for a rehabilitation program at “La Solane” Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center, in Osséja, France. All patients received a detailed information letter about the study before providing their written informed consent. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee Montpellier Sud-Méditerranée IV (n°2011-A00842-39) and conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and the European guidelines for “good clinical practice.”

LFD were determined by one qualified person (AK in the authors’ list) via a plethysmograph (Body-box 5500, MediSoft, Belgium). The latter was calibrated each morning. The following data were determined: flow-volume curve’ data [FVC (L), FEV₁ (L), PEF (L/s), MMEF (L/s), forced expiratory flow when x% FVC remains to be exhaled (FEF_x%, L/s)], volumes and capacities [expiratory reserve volume (ERV, L), inspiratory reserve volume (IRV, L), inspiratory capacity (IC, L), slow vital capacity (SVC, L), residual volume (RV, L), TLC (L), thoracic gas volume (TGV, L)], ratios (FEV₁/FVC, FEV₁/SVC, RV/TLC, absolute values), and specific airway resistance (sRaw, kPa*s).
The plethysmographic measurements were performed according to the international recommendations [34 (link), 35 (link)], widely described elsewhere [8 (link), 10 (link), 24 (link), 36 (link)], and the reproducibility and acceptability criteria were respected [34 (link), 35 (link)]. The acceptability and reproducibility of the FVC maneuvers were described elsewhere [24 (link)]. Regarding the TGV repeatability, at least three values were obtained so that the difference between the highest and the lowest TGV values divided by the mean was ≤ 0.05 [35 (link)]. The TGV average value was selected [35 (link)].

All subjects underwent spirometry (Medisoft Body Box 5500, Sorinnes, Belgium). FEV₁ (forced expiratory volume in 1 second) and FVC (forced vital capacity) were measured, and the FEV₁/FVC ratio was calculated and compared with normal values [15 (link)].

PFTs were performed according to the American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society guidelines [25 (link)] (BodyBox 5500 Medisoft Sorinnes, Belgium). Vital capacity (VC), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁), FEV₁/FVC ratio, expiratory reserve volume (ERV) were measured during spirometry [26 (link)]. Residual volume (RV), functional residual capacity (FRC), and total lung capacity (TLC) were measured during plethysmography [27 (link)]. As the plethysmography cabin is not suitable for patients weighing more than 150 kg, spirometric measurements only (including FEV₁, VC, FVC, FEV₁/FVC, and ERV) were performed in patients weighing more than 150 kg. Results are expressed in milliliters and percentage of predicted values. A restrictive defect was defined as a TLC < 80% of predicted value. The carbon monoxide diffusing capacity of the lung (DLCO) was measured and expressed in percentage of predicted values [28 (link)]. As data concerning patients ethnicity was not collected in this study, ethnicity was not taken into account in PFTs predicted values results.

Stable COPD patients (40 to 78 years old) referred to the La Solane Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center (5 Santé /Fontalvie Corporation, F-66340, Osséja, France) were recruited. COPD was defined by the occurrence of dyspnea, chronic cough or sputum production, and/or a history of exposure to risk factors for the disease and postbronchodilatator FEV₁/FVC < 70%, evaluated by plethysmography (Body Box 5500, Medisoft, Belgium) according to the validated methodology [1 (link)]. The exclusion criteria were as follows: exacerbations within the last month, unstable disease incompatible with a PR program, antioxidant supplementation (vitamins, trace elements, etc.) or use of drugs such as allopurinol and N-acetylcysteine within the last month, and use of oral corticosteroids over the last six months. The BODE index was determined to assess global disease severity [7 (link)]. It was determined from the body mass index (B), the degree of airflow obstruction with FEV₁ (O), dyspnea (D) as assessed by the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale, and exercise capacity (E) measured by the 6-minute walk test (6MWT).