The influence of deprivation on malnutrition risk in outpatients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Nutritional Support in Malnourished Outpatients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

(1) Background: The evidence for nutritional support in COPD is almost entirely based on ready-to-drink oral nutritional supplements (ONSs). This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of powdered ONSs alongside individualized dietary counseling in the management of malnutrition. (2) Methods: Malnourished outpatients with COPD were randomized to receive either routine care (Group A: counseling + recommended to purchase powdered ONSs) or an enhanced intervention (Group B: counseling + provision of powdered ONSs at no cost to the patient) for 12 weeks. Outcomes of interest were nutritional intake, weight status, and quality of life. (3) Results: A total of 33 outpatients were included, categorized as follows: Group A (n = 21); Group B (n = 12); severely malnourished (n = 9), moderately malnourished (n = 24), mean BMI 18.0 SD 2.5 kg/m2. No differences were observed between groups at baseline or at week 12; however, analysis of the whole cohort (Group A + B) revealed nutrition intervention resulted in significant improvements in protein intake (+25.4 SD 53.4 g/d; p = 0.040), weight (+1.1 SD 2.6 kg; p = 0.032) and quality of life (-4.4 SD 10.0; p = 0.040). Only 41.2% of Group A and 58.3% of Group B reported consuming ONSs at week 12. Adherence to ONSs was associated with weight gain (+1.9 SD 2.5 kg vs. +0.4 SD 2.5 kg; p = 0.098). (4) Conclusions: Nutritional support results in significant improvements in nutrition status and quality of life in malnourished outpatients with COPD. However, improvements are associated with adherence to ONSs, suggesting the type of ONSs and how they are provided are important considerations in clinical practice and future studies.

The IMPROVE trial: study protocol for a pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial to assess the effectiveness of using lay health workers to improve uptake and completion of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is a programme of exercise and education and the most effective treatment for the symptoms and disability associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, the benefits of PR are limited by poor uptake and completion. This trial will determine whether using trained volunteer lay health workers, called "PR buddies," improves uptake and completion of PR and is cost-effective. This trial protocol outlines the methods for evaluating effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and acceptability.

METHODS

The IMPROVE trial is a pragmatic, open, cluster randomised controlled trial planned in 38 PR services across England and Wales. PR services will be randomised to either intervention arm-offering support from PR buddies to patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-or to usual care as the control arm. PR staff in trial sites randomised to the intervention arm will receive training in recruiting and training PR buddies. They will deliver training to volunteers, recruited from among people who have recently completed PR in their service. The 3-day PR-buddy training programme covers communication skills, confidentiality, boundaries of the PR-buddy role and behaviour change techniques to help patients overcome obstacles to attending PR. An internal pilot will test the implementation of the trial in eight sites (four intervention sites and four in control arm). The primary outcome of the trial is the uptake and completion of PR. A process evaluation will investigate the acceptability of the intervention to patients, PR staff and the volunteer PR buddies, and intervention fidelity. We will also conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis.

DISCUSSION

Improving outcomes for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and access to PR are priorities for the UK National Health Service (NHS) in its long-term plan. The trial hypothesis is that volunteer PR buddies, who are recruited and trained by local PR teams, are an effective and cost-effective way to improve the uptake and completion rates of PR. The trial is pragmatic, since it will test whether the intervention can be incorporated into NHS PR services. Information obtained in this trial may be used to influence policy on the use of PR buddies in PR and other similar services in the NHS.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ISRCTN12658458. Registered on 23/01/2023.

Implementing an Evidence-Based COPD Hospital Discharge Protocol: A Narrative Review and Expert Recommendations

Discharge bundles, comprising evidence-based practices to be implemented prior to discharge, aim to optimise patient outcomes. They have been recommended to address high readmission rates in patients who have been hospitalised for an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Hospital readmission is associated with increased morbidity and healthcare resource utilisation, contributing substantially to the economic burden of COPD. Previous studies suggest that COPD discharge bundles may result in fewer hospital readmissions, lower risk of mortality and improvement of patient quality of life. However, evidence for their effectiveness is inconsistent, likely owing to variable content and implementation of these bundles. To ensure consistent provision of high-quality care for patients hospitalised with an exacerbation of COPD and reduce readmission rates following discharge, we propose a comprehensive discharge protocol, and provide evidence highlighting the importance of each element of the protocol. We then review care bundles used in COPD and other disease areas to understand how they affect patient outcomes, the barriers to implementing these bundles and what strategies have been used in other disease areas to overcome these barriers. We identified four evidence-based care bundle items for review prior to a patient's discharge from hospital, including (1) smoking cessation and assessment of environmental exposures, (2) treatment optimisation, (3) pulmonary rehabilitation, and (4) continuity of care. Resource constraints, lack of staff engagement and knowledge, and complexity of the COPD population were some of the key barriers inhibiting effective bundle implementation. These barriers can be addressed by applying learnings on successful bundle implementation from other disease areas, such as healthcare practitioner education and audit and feedback. By utilising the relevant implementation strategies, discharge bundles can be more (cost-)effectively delivered to improve patient outcomes, reduce readmission rates and ensure continuity of care for patients who have been discharged from hospital following a COPD exacerbation.

The Relationship Between Prognostic Nutritional Indexes and the Clinical Outcomes of Patients with Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Purpose

Nutritional status is related to the clinical outcomes of patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). The aim of this study was to investigate the association between nutritional status, measured by the prognostic nutritional index (PNI), and adverse hospitalization outcomes in patients with AECOPD.

Methods

Consecutive AECOPD patients admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between January 1, 2015 to October 31, 2021 were enrolled. We collected the clinical characteristics and laboratory data of patients. Multivariable logistic regression models were developed to assess the relationship between the baseline PNI and adverse hospitalization outcomes. A generalized additive model (GAM) was used to identify any non-linear relationship. In addition, we performed a subgroup analysis to tested the robustness of the results.

Results

A total of 385 AECOPD patients were involved in this retrospective cohort study. Based on the tertiles of PNI, patients in the lower tertiles of PNI showed more worse outcome incidence (30 [23.6%] versus 17 [13.2%] versus 8 [6.2%]; p < 0.001). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that the PNI were independently associated with adverse hospitalization outcomes after adjustment for confounding factors (Odds ratio [OR] = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.91 to 0.97, P < 0.0001). After adjusting for confounders, smooth curve fitting showed a saturation effect, suggesting that the relationship between the PNI and adverse hospitalization outcomes was nonlinear. Two-piecewise linear regression model suggested that the incidence of adverse hospitalization outcomes significantly decreased with PNI level up to the inflection point (PNI = 42), and PNI was not associated with adverse hospitalization outcome after that point.

Conclusion

Decreased PNI levels at admission were determined to be associated with adverse hospitalization outcomes in patients with AECOPD. The results obtained in this study may potentially assist clinicians optimize risk evaluations and clinical management processes.

Global prevalence of malnutrition in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Systemic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Malnutrition is a significant comorbidity among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but it has been often ignored. To date, the prevalence of malnutrition and its association with clinical parameters in the patients with COPD have not been well described. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of malnutrition and the prevalence of at-risk for malnutrition among COPD and the clinical impact of malnutrition on patients with COPD in a systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched for articles describing the prevalence of malnutrition and/or at-risk for malnutrition from January 2010 to December 2021. Eligibility screening, data extraction, and quality assessment of the retrieved articles were conducted independently by two reviewers. Meta-analyses were performed to determine the prevalence of malnutrition and at-risk for malnutrition and the clinical impact of malnutrition on patients with COPD. Meta-regression and subgroup analyses were performed to explore the sources of heterogeneity. Comparisons were made between individuals with and without malnutrition according to pulmonary function, degree of dyspnea, exercise capacity, and mortality risk.

RESULTS

Out of the 4156 references identified, 101 were read full-text, of which 36 studies were included. The total number of involved patients included in this meta-analysis was 5289. The prevalence of malnutrition was 30.0% (95% CI 20.3 to 40.6), compared with an at-risk prevalence of 50.0% (95% CI 40.8 to 59.2). Both prevalences were associated with regions and measurement tools. The prevalence of malnutrition was associated with COPD phase (acute exacerbations and stable). COPD with malnutrition showed lower forced expiratory volume 1 s % predicted (mean difference (MD) -7.19, 95% CI -11.86 to -2.52), higher modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scores (MD 0.38, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.64), poorer exercise tolerance (standardized mean difference -0.29, 95% CI -0.54 to -0.05), and higher mortality risk (hazard ratio 2.24, 95% CI 1.23 to 4.06) compared to COPD without malnutrition.

CONCLUSION

Malnutrition and at-risk for malnutrition are common among COPD. Malnutrition negatively impacts important clinical outcomes of COPD.

The Performances of SNAQ, GLIM, mNICE, and ASPEN for Identification of Neurocritically Ill Patients at High Risk of Developing Refeeding Syndrome

We previously found that neurocritically ill patients are prone to refeeding syndrome (RFS), a potentially life-threatening complication. However, there is no unified or validated consensus on the screening tool for RFS so far. We aimed to validate and compare the performance of four screening tools for RFS in neurocritically ill patients. We conducted a single-center, observational, retrospective cohort study among neurocritically ill adult patients who were admitted to the neurocritical care unit (NCU), and who received enteral nutrition for 72 h or longer. They were scored on the Short Nutritional Assessment Questionnaire (SNAQ), the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM), the modified criteria of the Britain’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (mNICE), and ASPEN Consensus Recommendations for Refeeding Syndrome (ASPEN) scales to predict RFS risk via admission data. The performance of each scale in predicting RFS was evaluated. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the independent risk factors for RFS, and they were added to the above scales to strengthen the identification of RFS. Of the 478 patients included, 84 (17.57%) developed RFS. The sensitivity of the SNAQ and GLIM was only 20.2% (12.6–30.7%), although they had excellent specificities of 84.8% (80.8–88.1%) and 86.0% (82.1–89.2%), respectively; mNICE predicted RFS with a sensitivity of 48.8% (37.8–59.9%) and a specificity of 65.0% (60.0–69.9%); ASPEN had the highest Youden index, with a sensitivity and specificity of 53.6% (42.4–64.4%) and 64.7% (59.8–69.4%), respectively. The Area Under the receiver operating characteristic Curves (AUC) of SNAQ, GLIM, mNICE, and ASPEN to predict RFS were 0.516 (0.470–0.561), 0.533 (0.487–0.579), 0.568 (0.522–0.613), and 0.597 (0.551–0.641), respectively. We identified age, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II), Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA), and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score as independent risk factors of RFS, and the combination of GCS and age can improve the AUC of ASPEN to 0.664 (0.620–0.706) for predicting RFS. SNAQ, GLIM, mNICE, and ASPEN do not perform well in identifying neurocritically ill patients at high risk of RFS, although ASPEN appears to have relatively a good validity among them. Combining GCS and age with ASPEN slightly improves RFS recognition, but it still leaves a lot of room for improvement.

Palliative Care Early in the Care Continuum among Patients with Serious Respiratory Illness: An Official ATS/AAHPM/HPNA/SWHPN Policy Statement

Background: Patients with serious respiratory illness and their caregivers suffer considerable burdens, and palliative care is a fundamental right for anyone who needs it. However, the overwhelming majority of patients do not receive timely palliative care before the end of life, despite robust evidence for improved outcomes. Goals: This policy statement by the American Thoracic Society (ATS) and partnering societies advocates for improved integration of high-quality palliative care early in the care continuum for patients with serious respiratory illness and their caregivers and provides clinicians and policymakers with a framework to accomplish this. Methods: An international and interprofessional expert committee, including patients and caregivers, achieved consensus across a diverse working group representing pulmonary-critical care, palliative care, bioethics, health law and policy, geriatrics, nursing, physiotherapy, social work, pharmacy, patient advocacy, psychology, and sociology. Results: The committee developed fundamental values, principles, and policy recommendations for integrating palliative care in serious respiratory illness care across seven domains: 1) delivery models, 2) comprehensive symptom assessment and management, 3) advance care planning and goals of care discussions, 4) caregiver support, 5) health disparities, 6) mass casualty events and emergency preparedness, and 7) research priorities. The recommendations encourage timely integration of palliative care, promote innovative primary and secondary or specialist palliative care delivery models, and advocate for research and policy initiatives to improve the availability and quality of palliative care for patients and their caregivers. Conclusions: This multisociety policy statement establishes a framework for early palliative care in serious respiratory illness and provides guidance for pulmonary-critical care clinicians and policymakers for its proactive integration.

Relationship of Red Cell Index with the Severity of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Background

We aimed to investigate the association between red cell index (RCI) and the severity of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and compare predictive value of RCI, neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet–lymphocyte ratio (PLR) for the severity of COPD.

Methods

A total of 207 participants were recruited (100 COPD patients and 107 healthy controls). COPD patients were divided into two groups according to the optimal cut-off value of RCI determined by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Pearson’s correlation test, logistic regression analysis and other tests were performed.

Results

Compared with low RCI group, the forced expiration volume in 1 second (FEV₁) and FEV₁ in percent of the predicted value (FEV₁%) in high RCI group were lower (p = 0.016, p = 0.001). There was a negative correlation between RCI and FEV₁% (r = −0.302, p = 0.004), while no correlation between FEV₁% and NLR as well as PLR were found. RCI showed higher predictive value than NLR and PLR for predicting Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease classification (GOLD), with a cut-off value of 1.75 and area under the curve (AUC) of 0.729 (p = 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis proved that RCI was an independent factor for lung function in COPD patients (odds ratio [OR] = 4.27, 95% CI: 1.57–11.63, p = 0.004).

Conclusion

RCI is a novel biomarker that can better assess pulmonary function and severity of COPD than NLR and PLR. Higher RCI is related to deterioration of pulmonary function.

The Relationship of Lymphocyte to High-Density Lipoprotein Ratio with Pulmonary Function in COPD

Purpose

This study aimed to explore the relation between lymphocyte to high-density lipoprotein ratio (LHR) and pulmonary function of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients compared with neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet–lymphocyte ratio (PLR).

Patients and Methods

In total, 154 participants (n = 77 with COPD and n = 77 without COPD) were recruited. LHR, NLR, PLR, lung function and other data were collected and compared. Pearson’s correlation test and the receiver operating characteristics curves were used to compare the utility of LHR, NLR and PLR. Besides, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted.

Results

COPD patients with poorer lung function had a lower LHR level (P < 0.001). In low LHR group, more patients underwent greater airflow limitation than the other group (P = 0.006). LHR positively correlated with forced expiratory volume in 1 second in percent of the predicted value (FEV₁%) (r = 0.333, P = 0.003). At a cut-off value of 2.08, the sensitivity and specificity of LHR in predicting FEV₁% < 50 were 93.2% and 55.6%, respectively, with an AUC of 0.770 (P = 0.001) better than NLR and PLR. Based on logistic regression analyses, it was proved that LHR was associated with decreased risk of FEV₁ <50% predicted in COPD patients (odds ratio = 0.198, 95% CI: 0.048–0.811, P = 0.024).

Conclusion

In contrast with NLR and PLR, LHR has higher accuracy for predicting pulmonary function in COPD; lower LHR level is independently associated with poorer pulmonary function.

Does Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 Correlate with the Dyspnea Status of Patients with GOLD Stage C-D Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease?

OBJECTIVES

Dyspnea is a prominent symptom of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Patients with Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) Stage C-D often complain of dyspnea, but the relationship between their level of dyspnea and their nutritional status has not yet been established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the dyspnea levels and nutritional status ofstable COPD patients in the out patient clinic.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Medical records including the Modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) Dyspnea Scale and the nutritional status of 41 patients were investigated in the study. The meanage of patients was 71.7±9.2 years. The Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS-2002) tool, body mass index (BMI), and mid-upper arm circumference were used to evaluate their nutritional status. We used correlation analysis to display the relationship between NRS-2002 score and MRC, COPD stage, and biochemical and anthropometric parameters indicating the nutritional status of patients.

RESULTS

Out of the 41 COPD patients 87.8% (36) enrolled in the study were men and 12.2% (5) were women. The GOLD stages of the patients were 29.3% of patients with stage C and 70.7% with stage D. The risk of malnutrition (NRS ≥3) was detected in 48.8% of the patients, whereas 51.2% of patients (NRS<3) were risk-free. The mid-upper arm circumference of at risk patients was lower (25.6±3.2 vs 29.9±2.7 cm, p=0.032). The NRS-2002 score had a positive correlation with mMRC records (r=0.351, p=0.024). There was a statistically significant negative correlation between the NRS-2002 score and the mid-upper arm circumference (r=0.604, p<0.0001). Also, there was a negative correlation between BMI and mid-upper arm circumference (r=0.699, p<0.0001).

CONCLUSION

The risk of malnutrition was common in stable COPD patients at the outpatient clinic, which seemed to adversely affect their dyspnea level. Therefore, while planning the treatment of COPD patients, evaluating their nutritional status and taking precautions accordingly contribute to the shortness of breath which is one of the most significant symptoms of the disease.

‘Mind the gap’: the importance of managing malnutrition in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Malnutrition is linked to poor outcomes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and reduced fat free mass and low BMI are independent risk factors for increased mortality. However, weight loss is not inevitable and can be prevented or reversed so screening for malnutrition is essential. The latest guidelines for managing malnutrition in COPD recommend first-line nutritional support. In particular, patients with a BMI <20 kg/m2 should be prescribed oral nutritional supplements (ONS), which have been shown to significantly improve outcomes. However, this guidance is often not implemented locally, increasing the likelihood of malnutrition, hospital admission and increased healthcare costs. Ready-prepared, low-volume, high-protein, high-energy drinks can improve compliance with ONS, particularly in people who are unable to tolerate high volumes. ONS therefore play an important role in managing malnutrition in COPD, helping to reduce its physiological and economic effects.

Prevalence of malnutrition in medical and surgical gastrointestinal outpatients

BACKGROUND

UK NICE guidelines, state that patients attending an outpatient clinic for the first time, should be screened for malnutrition.

AIMS

To determine the prevalence of malnutrition in the medical and surgical gastroenterology outpatient department (OPD) using body mass index (BMI) and % weight loss (%WL) and to assess the physicians'/surgeons' response to malnutrition being detected.

METHODS

The BMI and the %WL were determined for every patient over a 2 week period before the clinician saw the patient. The BMI and %WL were scored as in the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST).

RESULTS

605 patients (316 females) of mean age 54 years were included. 150 (25%) were new patients. 519 (86%) had a normal BMI and %WL. 86 (14%) had a BMI <20 kg/m² or had 5% WL. 61 (10%) were in MUST "medium risk" and 25 (4%) were in MUST "high risk" of malnutrition. 15 (60%) of the "high risk" patients were under the care of or had been referred to a dietitian compared to 19 (28%) of "medium risk" patients. The prevalence of malnutrition was independent of sex, age, history of previous surgery or underlying comorbidities. There was no difference in the prevalence of malnutrition between new and follow up patients. Malnutrition was more common in patients with IBD (38, 18%) vs non-IBD (48, 12%) and patients with cancer (11, 25%) vs non cancer (75, 13%) (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of malnutrition in medical and surgical gastrointestinal outpatients was 14%. IBD and cancer patients had the highest prevalence. Most patients with malnutrition (52, 61%) were not being seen by a dietitian.

Nutritional support in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): an evidence update

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) primarily affects the lungs but due to the accompanying chronic systematic inflammation and the symptoms associated with the disease there are many extrapulmonary effects which include complex physical and metabolic adaptations. These changes have been associated with reduced exercise capacity, increased nutritional requirements, altered metabolic processes and compromised nutritional intake. As a result, nutritional depletion in COPD is multi-faceted and can involve imbalances of energy (weight loss), protein (sarcopenia), and periods of markedly increased inflammation (pulmonary cachexia) which can increase nutritional losses. As a result, depletion of both fat-mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM) can occur. There is good evidence that nutritional support, in the form of oral nutritional supplements (ONS), can overcome energy and protein imbalances resulting in improved nutritional status and functional capacity. However, in order to treat the aetiology of sarcopenia, frailty and cachexia, it is likely that targeted multi-modal interventions are required to address energy and protein imbalance, specific nutrient deficiencies, reduced androgens and targeted exercise training. Furthermore, interventions taking a disease-course approach, are likely to hold the key to effectively managing the common and costly problem of nutritional depletion in COPD.

Pulmonary rehabilitation, physical activity, respiratory failure and palliative respiratory care

The CIRO Academy in Horn (the Netherlands) organised a 2-day meeting to present and discuss the studies published in 2017 pertaining to key priority areas of respiratory and critical care medicine. This review summarises studies focussing on pulmonary rehabilitation and exercise training, physical activity, chronic respiratory failure and palliative respiratory care published in 2017.

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

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.

Malnutrition according to ESPEN consensus predicts hospitalizations and long-term mortality in rehabilitation patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

BACKGROUND

Nutritional disorders are frequent in patients with chronic pulmonary obstructive disease (COPD) and have negative health impacts. This study aimed to explore the value of the European Society of Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) definition of malnutrition (and/or its individual components) to predict hospitalizations and mortality at 2 years, and to determine the prevalence of malnutrition in COPD patients referred to pulmonary rehabilitation.

METHODS

The study was a prospective analysis of 118 patients with COPD free of exacerbations and/or hospital admissions in the previous two months. Main outcome variables were mortality, hospital admissions, and length of stay at 2-year follow-up; main covariates were malnutrition assessment according to the ESPEN definition and its components: unintentional weight loss, body mass index, and fat-free mass index (FFMI). Body composition was assessed by bioimpedance analysis. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and linear regression analyses were performed, adjusting for age and airflow obstruction as potential confounders.

RESULTS

The observed prevalence of malnutrition was 24.6%. Malnutrition was associated with increased mortality risk (HR = 3.9 [95% CI: 1.4-10.62]). FFMI was independently associated with increased mortality (HR = 17.0 [95% CI: 2.24-129.8]), which persisted after adjustment for age and lung function (adjusted HR = 13.0 [95% CI: 1.67-101.7]). Low age-related body mass index was associated with increased risk of hospital admissions.

CONCLUSIONS

Malnutrition according to ESPEN criteria, highly prevalent in patients with stable COPD referred to pulmonary rehabilitation, was associated with 4 times greater mortality risk after 2 years. Low FFMI was associated with a 17-fold increase in mortality risk, suggesting independent predictive value.

Supplementation with Qter® and Creatine improves functional performance in COPD patients on long term oxygen therapy

BACKGROUND

Skeletal muscle dysfunction and poor functional capacity are important extra-pulmonary manifestations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), especially in COPD patients on long-term O₂ therapy (LTOT). Beside the role of pulmonary rehabilitation, the effect of nutritional interventions is still controversial, and there are knowledge gaps on the effective role of nutraceutical supplementation on hard endpoints. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of nutritional supplementation with Coenzyme Q10 (QTer^®) - a powerful antioxidant with the potential to reduce oxidative stress and improve mitochondrial function - and Creatine on functional, nutritional, and metabolomic profile in COPD patients on long-term O₂ therapy.

METHODS

One-hundred and eight patients with COPD from 9 Italian hospitals were enrolled in this double-blinded randomized placebo-controlled clinical study. At baseline and after 2 months of therapy, the patients underwent spirometry, 6-minute walk test (6MWT), bioelectrical impedance analysis, and activities of daily living questionnaire (ADL). Also, dyspnea scores and BODE index were calculated. At both time points, plasma concentration of CoQ10 and metabolomic profiling were measured.

FINDINGS

Ninety patients, who randomly received supplementation with QTer^® and Creatine or placebo, completed the study. Compared with placebo, supplemented patients showed improvements in 6MWT (51 ± 69 versus 15 ± 91 m, p < 0.05), body cell mass and phase angle, sodium/potassium ratio, dyspnea indices and ADL score. The CoQ10 plasma concentration increased in the supplementation group whereas it did not change in the placebo group. The metabolomics profile also differed between groups. Adverse events were similar in both groups.

INTERPRETATION

These results show that in patients with COPD, dietary supplementation with CoQ10 and Creatine improves functional performance, body composition and perception of dyspnea. A systemic increase in some anti-inflammatory metabolites supports a pathobiological mechanism as a reason for these benefits. Further trials should help clarifying the role of QTer^® and Creatine supplementation in patients with COPD.

Influence of deprivation on health care use, health care costs, and mortality in COPD

Background and aim

Deprivation is associated with the incidence of COPD, but its independent impact on clinical outcomes is still relatively unknown. This study aimed to explore the influence of deprivation on health care use, costs, and survival.

Methods

A total of 424 outpatients with COPD were assessed for deprivation across two hospitals. The English Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) was used to establish a deprivation score for each patient. The relationship between deprivation and 1-year health care use, costs, and mortality was examined, controlling for potential confounding variables (age, malnutrition risk, COPD severity, and smoking status).

Results

IMD was significantly and independently associated with emergency hospitalization (β-coefficient 0.022, SE 0.007; p=0.001), length of hospital stay, secondary health care costs (β-coefficient £101, SE £30; p=0.001), and mortality (HR 1.042, 95% CI 1.015–1.070; p=0.002). IMD was inversely related to participation in exercise rehabilitation (OR 0.961, 95% CI 0.930–0.994; p=0.002) and secondary care appointments. Deprivation was also significantly related to modifiable risk factors (smoking status and malnutrition risk).

Conclusion

Deprivation in patients with COPD is associated with increased emergency health care use, health care costs, and mortality. Tackling deprivation is complex; however, strategies targeting high-risk groups and modifiable risk factors, such as malnutrition and smoking, could reduce the clinical and economic burden.

Two components of the new ESPEN diagnostic criteria for malnutrition are independent predictors of lung function in hospitalized patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

INTRODUCTION

Low fat free mass index (FFMI) is a component of the ESPEN diagnosis criteria of malnutrition, that only when accompanied with weight loss is considered to be a determinant of malnutrition. Our aims were to assess the prevalence of malnutrition in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) applying the ESPEN criteria, and to examine the ability of different components of the criteria to predict COPD severity, length of stay (LOS), hospital readmissions within 30 days and mortality.

METHODS

Subjects were COPD patients (n = 121) admitted to Landspitali University Hospital from March 2015 to March 2016. Patients were screened for nutritional risk using Icelandic screening tool (ISS) and NRS-2002. Body composition was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Lung function was measured by spirometry.

RESULTS

The prevalence of malnutrition according to the ESPEN criteria was 21%. The association between nutritional assessment, applying different components of the ESPEN criteria, and COPD severity was highly significant, with the highest risk being associated with low FFMI OR (95% CI) 4.77 (2.03, 11.20; p < 0.001). There was a trend towards higher risk of hospitalization for >7 days in subjects with low FFMI (OR 2.46 95% CI 0.92, 6.59; p = 0.074) and increased risk of 6 and 9 months' mortality (OR 2.72 95% CI 0.88, 8.39, P = 0.082 and OR 2.72 95% CI 0.94, 7.87, P = 0.065, respectively) in subjects diagnosed as malnourished by the ESPEN criteria.

CONCLUSION

This study describes the prevalence of malnutrition in hospitalized COPD patients using the ESPEN criteria from 2015. Our findings suggest that FFMI could be used independently of weight loss for the diagnosis of malnutrition in COPD patients, although there remain some problems associated with its measurement in the clinical setting.