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Body composition, energy expenditure and physical activity

Nutrition impact symptoms and body composition in patients with COPD

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 69, pages 256–261 (2015)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/objectives:

Anorexia or lack of appetite is common in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and may be caused or augmented by several symptoms affecting appetite and eating. We aimed to investigate and quantify the extent of nutrition impact symptoms (NIS) in patients with COPD and to explore relationships between NIS and fat-free mass depletion.

Subjects/methods:

The results in this cross-sectional study are based on 169 COPD patients (62% female subjects). Body composition was assessed using bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy and the patients reported NIS by two newly developed questionnaires: the Eating Symptoms Questionnaire (ESQ) and the Disease-Related Appetite Questionnaire (DRAQ).

Results:

Symptoms with the highest prevalence were dry mouth (71%), stomach ache (39%), pain or aches affecting appetite (36%) and constipation (35%). Problems with diarrhoea and feeling affected by smells were more severe among women compared with men (P<0.05). Thirty-six percent of the patients were depleted (fat-free mass index (FFMI) <15 kg/m2 for women and FFMI<16 kg/m2 for men). Depleted patients had more NIS (P<0.05) and also rated appetite and taste of food as worse compared with non-depleted patients (P<0.05).

Conclusions:

NIS are common in patients with COPD, and depleted patients have more severe symptoms. To investigate how these symptoms are best prevented and/or managed and whether NIS prevention/treatment can affect development of malnutrition in patients with COPD is a challenge for the future.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the Swedish Heart and Lung Association and Agreement concerning research and education of doctors.

Author Contributions

JN conducted the research, analysed data and wrote the paper; AMG designed the study, conducted the research and wrote the paper; IB, HBF, LH, ER, JK and OW designed the study and wrote the paper; FS designed the study, analysed data and wrote the paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

    J Nordén, A M Grönberg, I Bosaeus, H Bertéus Forslund, L Hulthén, E Rothenberg, O Wallengren & F Slinde

  2. Centre for Health Care Sciences, Örebro University Hospital, Örebro, Sweden

    J Karlsson

  3. Department of Medicine, Örebro University Hospital, Örebro, Sweden

    J Karlsson

  4. School of Health and Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden

    J Karlsson

Authors
  1. J Nordén
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  2. A M Grönberg
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  3. I Bosaeus
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  4. H Bertéus Forslund
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  5. L Hulthén
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  6. E Rothenberg
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  7. J Karlsson
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  8. O Wallengren
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  9. F Slinde
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to F Slinde.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Nordén, J., Grönberg, A., Bosaeus, I. et al. Nutrition impact symptoms and body composition in patients with COPD. Eur J Clin Nutr 69, 256–261 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2014.76

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2014.76

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