Prevalence of malnutrition in COPD and its relationship with the parameters related to disease severity

Burak Mete,1 Erkan Pehlivan,1 Gazi Gülbaş,2 Hakan Günen3 1Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, İnönü University, Malatya, Turkey; 2Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, İnönü University, Malatya, Turkey; 3Sureyyapasa Research and Training Center for Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery, Health Sciences University, Ministry of Health, Istanbul, Turkey Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the nutritional status and anthropometric values in a group of patients with COPD and to examine the relationship between these factors and disease severity. Methods: A total of 105 COPD patients were included in this cross-sectional study. The patients underwent spirometric exmination. Mini nutritional assessment form was applied, and the anthropometric values of the patients were measured by bioelectrical impedance method. Nutrient registration forms were given using a 3-day, 24-hour recall method to assess the nutrient uptake. COPD severity was determined using the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease criteria, and the correlations between nutritional status and disease severity parameters were measured. Results: The prevalence of malnutrition in our patients with COPD was found to be 17%. Spirometric parameters were found to be significantly lower in patients with low body mass index (BMI) and malnutrition. As the modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale score increased, the frequency of malnutrition increased (P=0.002). Positive significant correlation was found between spirometric variables and muscle mass and fat external tissue volume of the patients. Patients receiving higher protein content in diet showed a better muscle mass amount (P<0.001). Conclusion: Our study results confirmed that malnutrition is an important and frequently encountered problem in COPD patients, and spirometric values of the patients with malnourishment and with low BMI are significantly lower. We think that nutritional status should be evaluated in every COPD patient, and nutritional intake should be tailored individually. Keywords: COPD, malnutrition, nutritional statu

Real life profile of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients in Turkey

Despite the presentation of similar symptoms, the airway diseases have different underlying pathophysiological processes and must be distinguished to enable the administration of appropriate treatment. In several studies the clinician- and patient-related causes of poor compliance to treatment in asthma/chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients have been evaluated. This study aimed to determine the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of newly diagnosed treatment-naïve asthma and COPD patients in Turkey

Asthma-KOAH overlap syndrome [Astım-KOAH overlap sendromu]

PubMed ID: 26963310Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are common lung diseases characterized by chronic airway inflammation and airway obstruction. Among patient with COPD and asthma; there is a group of patients with an overlap between clinical, functional characteristics and airway inflammation patterns, named “Asthma-COPD Overlap Syndrome” (ACOS). ACOS is a syndrome characterized by reversible but persistant airflow limitation (postbronchodilator FEV1/FVC < 70%) which has some features of both asthma and COPD. ACOS should be suspected in a patient > 40 years, with smoking history, previous asthma diagnosis or history of childhood asthma who has persistant airflow limitation and reversible ariway obstruction (defined by an increase of > %12 of FEV1 pred or increase of FEV1 > 200 mL after inhalation of 400 mcg salbutamol or 1000 mcg terbutaline). The prevalence for ACOS has been reported 11-55% in different case series to date and increases by age and is more frequent in females in different age groups. Patients with ACOS are younger than COPD patients and older than asthma patients. Frequent and severe exacerbations and related hospitalization and emergency room visits are common in ACOS and this causes an impaired quality of life. Current recommendations of guidelines for pharmacologic treatment of ACOS have been composed of a combination with optimal COPD and asthma treatment. Future therapeutic approaches should be based on endotypes. Clinical phenotype and underlying endotype driven clinical studies may be the base of ACOS guidelines. © 2015, Ankara University. All rights reserved