Body composition in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate body composition in patients with COPD using two methods, Quételet index and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), and to compare their diagnostic values.Methods. The study included 198 patients with COPD admitted to the Territorial Teaching hospital No.2, and 28 healthy volunteers. According to COPD severity,  patients were divided into 4 groups; healthy volunteers (n = 28) were included in  the control group. All groups were matched for sex and age. Anthropometry with  body mass index (BMI) calculation and BIA were done in all participants.Results. The lowest average BMI was found in patients with severe and very severe COPD. Patients with infrequent exacerbations without decreased BMI had  reduction in fat-free mass (FFM) in 12.3% (n = 25); 14.1% patients (n = 28) had  increased body fat mass and decreased FFM. According to BIA results, reduction of  FFM was seen significantly more often than reduction of BMI (57.6% vs 30%; χ2=  58.71; p = 0.03). BIA parameters describing muscle tissue were significantly  related to the severity of bronchial obstruction (FEV1).Conclusion. Investigation of body composition using BIA method should be used  as a tool for comprehensive examination of COPD patients, for personalized choice  of treatment and in rehabilitation programs.