Outpatients with COPD at greater risk for unplanned weight loss
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Researchers in Denmark reported a high prevalence of unplanned weight loss in outpatients with COPD, with shortness of breath, reduced appetite and nausea among the most common nutrition impact symptoms.
“It is difficult to determine whether malnutrition is caused by worsening of COPD, but based on previous studies an association between malnutrition and the stage of COPD is known,” Tobias Christensen, of the Centre for Nutrition and Intestinal Failure at Aalborg University Hospital in Denmark, and colleagues wrote in Clinical Nutrition ESPEN. “Based on existing evidence, there is a need for a greater attention to strengthening nutritional status among COPD patients.”
Christensen and colleagues conducted a cross-sectional study, which included 200 patients with COPD (mean age, 68.7 years; 55.5% women) at a Danish COPD outpatient clinic from November 2020 to May 2021. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire, which captured information about gender, age, weight, height and education; unplanned weight loss; reduced food intake; intended weight loss; and nutrition impact symptoms. Researchers also used medical record data to assess unintended weight loss and its impact on negative outcomes in this patient population.
Researchers reported unplanned weight loss in 21.5% of patients (median weight loss, 3.5 kg), with 13.5% of patients with underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2) and 34.5% with obesity (BMI > 30 kg/m2). Twenty-two percent of patients experienced reduced food intake within the past week.
The most common nutrition impact symptoms observed in this cohort were shortness of breath (61.9%), reduced appetite (42.9%) and nausea (25%).
According to researchers, nutrition impact symptoms, reduced food intake and being underweight were associated with unplanned weight loss in patients with COPD, while comorbidities, hospitalization within 3 months and recent COPD exacerbations were not associated.
Researchers further determined that the prevalence of unplanned weight loss in this study was consistent with results from previous studies, in which 10% to 45% of patients with COPD were malnourished.
“Referral possibilities to clinical dietician would enable the clinical perspective of early intervention upon the hereby recommended initial screening for disease related malnutrition and obesity,” the researchers wrote.