Nutritional status in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - a first multi-centre experience in Croatia

Abstract

The nutritional status in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients is an important factor that influences the prognosis of the disease. The aim of this investigation was to study nutritional status in COPD patients and to investigate the association between nutritional status, disease severity and exercise capacity in four different regions of Croatia. In a multicentre study, 534 patients with COPD were recruited and their demographic characteristics were evaluated. Measurements included body composition by bioelectrical impedance analysis - fat free mass (FFM), fat free mass index (FFMI), sarcopenic index (SI), phase angle (PhA), pulmonary function tests and 6-minute walk test (6MWT). There were 325 (60,9%) male and 209 (39,1%) female patients with 66,7±8,4 years. FEV1 was 52±19,3% (males) and 60±23,8% (females), 6MWT was 396,5±110,8m. Body mass index (BMI) was 26,3±5,5kg/m2, FFM was 61,8±10kg (males) and 46±8,3kg (females), FFMI was 20,6±2,8kg/m2 (males) and 18,6±3,1kg/m2 (females), SI was 8,2±1,4kg/m2 (males) and 6,9±1kg/m2 (females) with no statistical difference between centres (p=0.313;p=0.971;p=0.565;p=0.860;p=0.690;p=0.562). PhA was 6±1,8° (males) and 5,6±1,7° (females). There were significant positive correlation of FEV1 with BMI (r=0,148,p=0,001), PhA (r=0,256,p=0,00), FFM (r=0.365,p=0,00), SI (r=0,238,p=0,00), but no significant correlation of 6MWT with BMI (r=-0,049,p=0,254), FFM (r=0.065,p=0,133) and SI (r=-0,007,p=0,867). Data showed that our patients are well-nourished and that there is no significant difference between centres in BMI, FFM, FFMI and SI. There is a significant correlation between nutritional status and disease severity.