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Introduction: Sarcopenia and malnutrition are common extra-pulmonary conditions in COPD, with important clinical consequences on patients. Aims and Objectives: To compare disease severity (airway obstruction, symptoms), nutritional variables and inflammatory parameters among COPD patients with and without sarcopenia/malnutrition. Methods: Fifty COPD patients underwent lung function tests, body composition (bioelectrical impedance analysis), functional (handgrip strength-HGS, gait speed and six minute walk distance-6MWD) and biochemical measurements (blood count, PCR, vitamin D, vitamin B12, folic acid, ferritin, transferrin). Questionnaires were administered, i.e. COPD assessment test (CAT), mMRC and mini nutritional assessment (MNA). Sarcopenia was diagnosed as low muscle mass, plus low HGS and/or low gait speed. Patients at nutrition risk were identified based on MNA score. Results: Twenty-seven patients met the inclusion criteria and were analysed. Sarcopenia was founf in 12/27 patients (44%), while nutritional risk in 9/27 (33%). Compared to non-sarcopenic, patients with sarcopenia had significantly (p Conclusions: In COPD, sarcopenia and malnutrition may be associated with greater airway obstruction, worse gas exchange and functional status and greater symptoms. Levels of vitamin D may also be affected, but further studies are needed. |
