Lower BMI, hand grip strength seen in advanced COPD patients

A recent study has shown notable characteristics of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in advanced stages, which include decreased body mass index (BMI), fat-free body mass, hand grip strength, and respiratory and skeletal muscle functions.

The investigators sought to evaluate the nutritional statuses of COPD patients in four categories of the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) 2015 classification and to examine the associations of BMI and fat-free mass index with respiratory and skeletal muscle strengths.

A total of 463 COPD patients aged ≥40 years who were followed for at least a year were included in this prospective observational study. Medical histories, smoking status, and anthropometric, spirometry, and hand grip strength measurements were recorded.

Participants were classified according to GOLD as follows: group A (n=119), group B (n=58), group C (n=117), and group D (n=169). Patients in group D were older than those in other groups (p=0.001). No between-group difference was found in terms of sex (p=0.163).

Fat-free body mass was significantly lower in group D than in group A (p=0.014), and BMI was decreased in groups C and D compared with other groups (p=0.001). Furthermore, a significant decreasing trend in spirometry and hand grip strength was observed in group D patients (p<0.001 for both).

“Nutritional status should be routinely monitored and considered an important indicator in COPD,” the investigators said.