Magnetic Stimulation Therapy in Patients with COPD: A Systematic Review

Figures & data

Figure 1. Flow chart.

Table 1. Demographics characteristics of patients with COPD (n = 36) treated with MF, and description of the intervention.

	Studies
Variables	Bustamante et al. (2010)	Bustamante et al. (2008)	Sadlonova et al. (2002)
Female (n. of)	—	—	4
Male (n. of)	10	10	12
Age (years)	61 ± 6^*	59 (8)^§	54 ± 4^¥
BMI (kg/m^2)	25.3 ± 3.8^*	26.4 (6.3)^§	—
GOLD classification (stage)	III–IV	IV	—
Tiffeneau Index (%)	32 ± 8^*	31 (10)^§	—
6MWD (meters)	397 ± 138^*	440 (188)^§	—
Study design	RCT	RCT	Interventional
Setting	Out-patient	Out-patient	In-patient
MS sessions (n. of)	24	24	10
Type of treatment	Quadriceps MS with coils	Quadriceps MS with coils	PEMF
Dosage	15–7 Hz; 40–70% of the max. output (0.8–1.4 T)	15–8 Hz; 40–70% of the max. output	4.5 Hz; 3 mT
Frequency	3 days/week for 8 weeks	3 days/week for 8 weeks	daily

COPD = chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; MF = magnetic fields; BMI = body mass index; GOLD = global initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease; 6MWD = six-minute walking distance; RCT = randomized controlled trial; MS = magnetic stimulation; PEMF = pulsatile electromagnetic fields; Hz = Hertz; T = Tesla; mT = milliTesla.

^* Mean ± standard deviation;

^§ median (interquartile range);

^¥ mean ± standard error of mean (S.E.M.).

Table 2. Main results using MF in patients with COPD (n = 36).

	Studies
Variables	Bustamante et al. (2010)	Bustamante et al. (2008)	Sadlonova et al. (2002)
Motor function-related parameters
6MWD (meters)	Increased by 23.4^*	Increased by 25^§	—
Vastus lateralis type I fibers size (µm^2)	—	Increased by 734.2^§	—
Quadriceps TwQ (%)	Increased by 15.6^*	—	—
Quadriceps MVC (%)	Increased by 17.5^*	—	—
Quadriceps endurance (seconds)	Increased by 158^*	—	—
Quality of life
SF-36 (score)	Significant improvements in the following fields: physical functioning, role limitations due to physical problems, bodily pain, social functioning, mental health, role limitations due to emotional problems, vitality, general health perception, changes over time.	—	—
SGRQ (score)	Significant improvements in all four areas.	—	—
Lung function-related parameters
FVC (L)	—	—	Decreased by 0.03^*
FEV1 (L)	No significant differences	—	Increased by 0.27^*
Tiffeneau Index (%)	No significant differences	—	Increased by 7.50^*
PEF (L/min)	—	—	Increased by 0.66^*

MF = magnetic fields COPD = chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; 6MWD = six-minute walking distance; µm² = micrometer; TwQ = twitch tension (Kg); MVC = maximal voluntary manoeuvres (Kg); SF-36 = short form; SGRQ = St. George's respiratory questionnaire; FVC = forced vital capacity; FEV1 = forced expiratory volume in 1 second; PEF = peak expiratory flow.

^* Mean;

^§ median.