Body composition in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart failure

Abstract

Introduction: The prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and heart failure (HF) is high. In this kind of patients the body composition is altered. However, these modifications have not been studied enough when both pathologies are present.

Purpose: To evaluate the body composition in HF and COPD.

Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional study in 937 subjects with HF and COPD. It was excluded patients with asthma and cancer. The body composition was evaluated through bioelectrical impedance by vector analysis (BIVA).

Results: The mean age was 64.31 ± 28.02 years, 46.88% were women. It was observed that those subjects with COPD and HF had greater age (COPD 71.92 ± 10.2, HF 61.67 ± 31.3, COPD and HF 73.03 ± 9.1, p=<0.001), weight (COPD 66.84 ± 17.8, HF 70.99 ± 20.6, COPD and HF 72.03 ± 20.2, p=0.053), waist circumference (COPD 97.30 ± 16.8, HF 95.12 ± 16.3, COPD and HF 101.54 ± 17.5, p=0.002), cachexia (COPD 77 (66.3), HF 261 (54.2), COPD and HF 34 (68), p=0.018) and obstructive sleep apnea (COPD 20 (12.7), HF 9 (23.6), COPD and HF 13 (29.5) p=0.020), as well as, a lower phase angle (COPD 4.92 ± 0.8, HF 5.11 ± 1.3, COPD and HF 4.71 ± 1.1, p= 0.030) and skeletal muscle mass (COPD 20.97 ± 16.1, HF 23.02 ± 6.9, COPD and HF 21.35 ± 6.9, p=0.034). While, the subjects with HF had higher frequency of diabetes, hypertension, greater total body water and arm circumference. Finally, subjects with COPD had lower strength and muscle mass (Figure 1).

Conclusion: Patients with HF and COPD suffer a decrease of the protein reserve, which means a worst prognostic.