Vol. 8, Issue 3, Part C (2022)

Background: COPD is one of the world's leading causes of morbidity and mortality. In Early 2020 COPD was the fourth leading cause of death worldwide, it has now become the third leading cause of death after 2020. In fact, COPD already has surpassed cerebro vascular disease to become the third leading cause of death in the United States. In addition, COPD is now recognized as a life-limiting illness that imposes significant symptom burden on those with the disease ^[1]. India also contributes a significant and growing percentage of COPD mortality which is estimated to be amongst the highest in the world; i.e. more than 64.7 estimated age standardized death rate per 100,000 amongst both sexes as mentioned in the WHO Global InfoBase Updated on 20th January 2011 (India 102.3 and China 131.5). This would translate into approximately 5,56,000 in case of India (>20%) and 1,354,000 cases in China (about 50%) out of a world total of 2,748,000 annually ^[2].

Aims and Objectives: To measure and compare the association between QoL and upper limb muscle strength and endurance.

Material and Methods: The present study was carried out in the department of Pulmonary Medicine, and its allied specialties in Gauhati Medical College and Hospital as well as Rahman Hospital, Pvt Ltd. It was a prospective observational study carried out for a period of about three year from March 2016 to July 2019. After getting the approval from Institutional Human Ethical Committee. All patients diagnosed with COPD above 40 years of age irrespective of gender and giving proper written informed consent were included in this study.

Results: In the study, a total of 100 patients diagnosed with COPD were included. Initially at first visit, the average hand grip muscle strength was found to be 33.52±5.57 kg but it significantly increased after 8 weeks of continuous upper limb exercise training with hand held dynamometer and elastic band exercises to 39.23±5.39 kg. On first visit the mean MMRC grading of Dyspnea was 2.28±0.45.On doing regular exercise with the hand held dynamometer and elastic band for duration of eight weeks, the main MMRC grading significantly improved to 1.45±0.5.

Conclusion: In the present study it was observed that upper limb exercise training with hand held dynamometer and elastic band for the patients with COPD improves upper limb exercise capacity, decreases dyspnea grading in a significant manner. So upper limb exercise training programme should be included for treatment regimen in COPD patients along with the pharmacotherapy in order to improve quality of life.