Profile of malnourished COPD patients: A comparative study

Rachida Djebaili 1, *, Nora Righi 2 and Bouthayna Chiboub 3

1 Department of Pulmonary diseases, public hospital establishment of Batna, Faculty of medicine of Batna, Algeria.
2 Department of Infectious diseases, public hospital establishment of Batna, Faculty of medicine of Batna, Algeria.
3 Department of Epidemiology, university hospital center of Batna, Faculty of medicine of Batna, Algeria.
 
Research Article
International Journal of Science and Research Archive, 2024, 11(01), 1167–1171.
Article DOI: 10.30574/ijsra.2024.11.1.0177
Publication history: 
Received on 22 December 2023; revised on 29 January 2024; accepted on 01 February 2024
 
Abstract: 
Introduction: Malnutrition is frequently associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) especially in severe stages. It is correlated with a poor prognosis.
The aim of this study was to determine malnutrition prevalence in COPD patients and to compare the profile of malnourished COPD versus not-malnourished COPD patients.
Patients and methods: Stable COPD patients benefited from nutritional evaluation by measuring body mass index (BMI). Subsequently, a comparative study was used to compare disease severity, number of acute exacerbations, modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale score and exercise capacity by the 6 min walk test (6MWT) between malnourished and not malnourished COPD patients.
Results: 175 COPD patients were recruited (9F; 166M) aged between 40 and 86 with an average age of 67.95 years. The mean smoke load of the patients was 35(20) packs/year, FEV1: 52(21) % pred, m MRC dyspnea scale: 2 (1). 41.14% of COPD patients were malnourished (BMI < 20 Kg/m2).
Two groups were individualized.
·         Group A: COPD with BMI < 20 Kg/m2:72 patients, (4F; 68M), age: 67(9) years, FEV1: 48.5(21.44) % pred.
·         Group B: COPD with BMI≥ 20 Kg/m2: 103 patients, (5F, 98M), age: 68(9) years, FEV1: 55.25(21.42) % pred.
Using the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) criteria, the functional stages found in group A patients were GOLD I: 12%, GOLD II: 23%, GOLD III: 42%, GOLD IV: 23%. While for group B were GOLD I:25% GOLD II%:35%, GOLD III:28%, GOLD IV:12%.
72% of group A patients have an m MRC ≥ 2 Vs 63% of group B.
77.8% of group A patients have a history of hospitalization for at least one acute exacerbation in the last 12-month vs 63.1% of Group B patients. The 6-min walk average distance (6MWD) was 423.58 m in Group A vs 438.33 m in Group B.
Conclusion: Nutritional assessment and appropriate management of undernutrition should be integrated into the treatment of COPD patients.
 
Keywords: 
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Body mass index; Malnutrition; Acute exacerbation; Exercise tolerance
 
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