Abstract
Background:Survival studies have shown significantly greater mortality rates in underweight and normal-weigh, than in overweight and obese COPD patients. Fat-free mass is an independent predictor of mortality irrespective of fat mass (Schols, A.M. et al. Am J Clin Nutr 2005;82:53-9).
Objective:To identify the value of the body composition analysis on COPD patients in different groups according to BMI.
Design: We studied 128 (100/28 male/female) patients with COPD, forced expiratory volume in 1 s of 41.3 ± 18.04 % of predicted (range: 11- 94%). Body composition was assessed by using dual X-ray absorbtionmetry (DXA). COPD patients were categorized into the WHO classification according to BMI. Body mass index (BMI), fat-free mass index (FFMI), fat mass index (FMI) were calculated and related to developed reference values (Kyle, U.G. et al. Nutrition 2003;19:597-604).
Results: From 128 subjects 7.04 % (n=9) were underweight, 41.4 % (n=53) were in normal BMI range, 25.0 % (n=32) were overweight and 26.56 % (n=34) were obese. In group with normal BMI 49.05 % (n=26) had low FFMI and normal or high FMI. Two overweight patients had low FFMI, others had normal or higher FFMI. Except one female, all patients in group underweight had low FFMI but normal FMI. All obese patients had normal or high FFMI and high FMI.
Conclusions: Results show that the most interesting was group with a normal BMI, where we found 49 % of patients with low FFMI. In this group of patients may be normal BMI misinterpreted and, therefore, may be mistaken for patients with normal body composition. Therefore, this group of COPD patients could be left out of rehabilitation programs and nutritional and therapeutic interventions.
- © 2014 ERS
