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This Article Full Text (PDF) Free All Versions of this Article: chest.06-2789v1 132/1/164    most recent Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Personal Article Archive Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ischaki, E. Articles by Loukides, S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ischaki, E. Articles by Loukides, S.

Body mass and fat free mass indices in COPD: Relation with variables expressing disease severity.

¹Department of Pneumonology, Veterans Hospital of Athens ² Clinical Research Unit Athens Army General Hospital ³University of Athens Medical School 1st Respiratory Medicine Dept

ssat{at}hol.gr

Abstract

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) primarily affects the lungs but also produces systemic consequences, which are not reflected by the recent staging according to GOLD guidelines. Body mass index (BMI) and fat free mass index (FFMI) represent different aspects of nutrition abnormalities in COPD. We investigated whether BMI and FFMI could be related to parameters expressing airflow obstruction and limitation, exercise capacity, airway inflammation and quality of life and whether they would reflect the GOLD staging of the disease.

Methods: One hundred patients with clinically stable COPD equally divided in to the 5 stages of the disease were evaluated for BMI, FFMI (measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis), airway obstruction and hyperinflation (FEV₁, FEV₁/FVC, inspiratory capacity), exercise capacity [6 minute walk distance (6MWD), Borg scale before and after 6MWD], chronic dyspnea using the MRC scale, airway inflammation (sputum differential cell counts and leukotriene B4 in supernatant), and quality of life (emotional part of the CRQ questionnaire).

Results: 6MWD was significantly associated with both BMI and FFMI values while FFMI additionally presented significant correlations with MRC scale, FEV₁ % pred., and FEV₁/FVC ratio. No association was observed between the two nutritional indexes. BMI was not statistically different among patients in the five stages of COPD, while FFMI reflected the staging of the disease, presenting the highest values in stage 0.

Conclusions: Nutritional status is mainly related to exercise capacity. FFMI seems to be more accurate in expressing variables of disease severity, as well as the current staging compared to BMI.

Key Words: body mass index • fat-free mass index • chronic obstructive pulmonary disease • exercise capacity • airway obstruction