Assessment of Nutritional Status in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients

Abstract

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is considered a major public health problem in the world. Weight loss, muscle and fat mass depletion are common nutritional problems in COPD patients and are determinant factors in pul­monary function, health status, disability and mortality. In the present study, we assessed nutritional status in COPD pa­tients.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in the Rasul-e-Akram Hospital, Tehran, Iran on 63 COPD patients with mean age (SD) of 67.6 (9.4) years. All subjects were diagnosed by a pulmonary specialist and based on a spirometry test. They were divided into three groups (2, 3, 4 stages of disease). Anthropometric and biochemical indices, body composition analy­ses by bioelectric impedance, spirometry test and determination of disease severity were performed for all subjects. All analy­ses were performed using the SPSS 14. All data presented as means (± sd). 
Results: Reduction of body mass index (BMI), Mid-Arm Muscle Circumference (MAMC) and Fat-Free Mass (FFM) were ob­served alongside an increase in disease severity but it was not significant. Significant reduction of Fat Mass (FM) (P= 0.007), Fat Mass Index (FMI) (P= 0.03) and biochemical indices like Albumin (P= 0.000) and Total Protein (P= 0.04) were associ­ated with an increase in disease stages.
Conclusion: It is suggested that in addition to BMI, other nutritional status indices like MAMC, FFM and FM should be used for early diagnosis of malnutrition before weight loss occurs.