Assessment of nutritional status and body composition in relation to quality of life in COPD patients.

Abstract

<b>Introduction:</b> Several observations suggest that lung involvement is associated with systemic inflammation in COPD, which can have an impact on skeletal muscle and metabolism and increase cardiovascular comorbidity risk. <b>Objective:</b> The aim of our study was to assess the nutritional status in COPD and to investigate the abnormalities in body composition and their relationship with characteristics and comorbidites. <b>Methods:</b> 50 COPD patients were included in PR program. Body composition was determined using the bioimpedance-based InBody770 scale. The disease-specific COPD Assessment Test (CAT) questionnaire was used to measure quality of life. Body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR) and body fat percentage (BFP) were categorized according to WHO recommendations. <b>Results:</b> 62% of patients (n=31, 26 women, 5 men) had a high WHR comorbidity risk (women&gt; 0.90, men&gt; 1.03), 7 with normal BMI (18.5-25 kg/m2). In case of having high waist-hip ratio (WHR) both sexes had poorer quality of life (CAT: 27 (15-30) vs. 24 (19-27); p&lt;0.05), worse exercise tolerance (6MWD: 275 (260-300) vs. 325 (195-380); p&lt;0.05), more cardiovascular comorbidities (41% vs. 11%; p&lt;0.05), higher number of exacerbations (2 vs. 1; p&lt;0.05) than in normal WHR. Based on body fat percentage (BFP%) results, obese patients (men ≥30; women ≥42) had worse quality of life scores than patients with normal body fat content (men ≤24; women ≤36). <b>Conclusion:</b> Two-thirds (62%) of patients have a high risk of cardiovascular comorbidity according to their hip-waist ratio, which indicates a high risk even in the normal BMI category. In addition to calculating BMI, it is worth to monitor waist and hip circumference and body fat content.