Razi Journal of Medical Sciences

  Background: Loss of body weight and depletion of muscle mass are common nutritional problems in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients . They are associated with increase disability, reduction of respiratory and skeletal muscle mass and strength, and these exert destructive effects on pulmonary function and quality of life in COPD patients. The aim of the current study was to assess the anthropometric indices and Fat-Free Mass Index and their relationship with pulmonary function in COPD patients in Hazrat Rasool Akram hospital in Tehran.

  Methods: This cross sectional study comprised 63 stable COPD patients, with a mean age (SD) of 67.6 (9.4) years in disease stages 2 to 4. In this study, assessment of anthropometric indices included BMI (Body Mass Index), TSF (Triceps Skinfold Thickness), MAMC (Mid Arm Muscle Circumference) and FFMI (Fat-Free Mass Index) analyzed by bioelectric impedance categorized by percentiles according to the severity of disease. Also spirometry for measuring FEV₁, FVC, FEV₁/ FVC, VC was performed on all participating COPD patients. Fisher`s Exact Test was used for assessing relation between anthropometric indices and FFMI with stages of disease. Assessment of relationship between anthropometric indices, FFMI and respiratory factors was performed using Pearson`s Correlation Coefficient test. SPSS V.12 was used for data analysis.

  Results: Reduction of weight, depletion of fat mass and fat-free mass was observed in different disease stages. Reduction of body mass index, and depletion of muscle mass showed a significant increase as the disease progressed, MAMC (P=0/02) and BMI (P=0/04). After assessing relationship between anthropometric indices and FFMI with respiratory factors, results showed significant relationship between BMI (P=0.02, r = 0.2) and MAMC (P=0.03, r = 0.2) with FEV₁.

  Conclusion: Reduction of weight, depletion of muscle and fat mass were observed in many patients along with an increase in the severity of the disease. In regard to these results, measurement of anthropometric indices in addition to BMI in routine evaluation of COPD patients, provide more information about nutritional abnormalities and alterations in body composition usually occurs in COPD patients.