Abstract
Introduction: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) can lead, during its evolution, to muscle mass loss or obesity. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of the body mass index on the functional severity of COPD.
Methods: In this study 197 patients were included. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated. COPD was confirmed by spirometry and reversibility test and classified according to GOLD 2010.
Results: In the study population, the median age was 64 years (32-89) with a sex-ratio at 0,68.The median BMI was 26,4 kg/m2 (15,4-52,2). Underweight was present in 8,6%, overweight in 24,9% and obesity in 28,4% of patients. COPD was classified in: stage 1 (n=21), stage 2 (n=86), stage 3 (n=67) and stage 4 (n=23). BMI was correlated with female gender (p<10-3), FEV1 (p=0,045;r=0,143), FEV1/FVC (p=0,007;r=0,191) and negatively correlated with COPD stages (p=0,021;r=-0,164). Underweight was correlated with COPD stage 4 (p=0,001;r=0,226) and negatively correlated with postbronchodilator FEV1 (p=0,002;r=-0,220). A T-Test showed that among obese patients, stage 4 of COPD was less frequent and postbronchodilator FEV1/FVC was higher (p=0,044; p=0,042). Among underweighted patients, stage 4 of COPD was more frequent (p=0,044) and FEV1 and FEV1/FVC ratio were lower (p=0,002; p=0,005).
Conclusion: Nutrition and body composition are essential to curb the evolution of COPD. Indeed, a BMI<18,5 kg/m2 accelerates evolution toward bad stages. However, obesity seems to be a protective factor for COPD patients.
Footnotes
Cite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2020; 56: Suppl. 64, 2439.
This abstract was presented at the 2020 ERS International Congress, in session “Respiratory viruses in the "pre COVID-19" era”.
This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).
- Copyright ©the authors 2020