Background and aims: Low body weight and low fat-free mass-index (FFMI) are common in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Several factors seem to contribute. The aims of the present observational study were to investigate dietary problems in patients with severe COPD and to compare dietary problems to nutritional status, energy intake and smoking habits.
Methods: Nutritional status was assessed in 73 stable outpatients using body mass index and FFMI by single-frequency bioelectrical impedance. Lung function, smoking habits, energy intake and dietary problems were also assessed.
Results: The most frequently reported dietary problems were 'anorexia', 'dyspeptic symptoms other than diarrhoea', 'slimming', 'fear of gaining weight', 'dyspnoea', 'diarrhoea', 'depression, anxiety, solitude'. Smoking habits and gender had impact on the kind of dietary problems reported. Reporting two dietary problems correlated to low FFMI, whereas reporting one or more dietary problems correlated to decreased energy intake.
Conclusion: Dietary problems are common in the group studied and related to smoking habits and gender. Dietary problems affect energy intake and FFMI negatively. It is important to recognize dietary problems and to offer intervention of the dietary problems as a part of the dietary intervention.