Energy and Protein Intake in Mild-Moderate COPD Patients.

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is often overlooked as an extrapulmonary comorbidity in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and there is limited information regarding the nutritional status of younger individuals with mild-to-moderate disease in outpatient settings. We assessed energy and protein intakes in mild-to-moderate COPD patients compared to a group of healthy non-smoking individuals (HNS). METHODS: COPD patients and HNS were recruited; anthropometric measurements were assessed via BMI and bioelectrical impedance, while nutritional intake was assessed using a 7-day food diary and the EPIC-Norfolk Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). Low fat-free mass index (FFMI) was defined as (a) RESULTS: 21 COPD participants and 15 HNS were recruited with a median age of 58.0 and 57.0, respectively [IQR: 55.0-63.0 and 50.0-60.0]. A significantly greater proportion of individuals with COPD had a low FFMI when using age-sex-BMI adjusted criteria (23.8 vs. 0.0%, p = 0.04). Using the estimated requirement threshold of 75%, more COPD patients did not meet nutritional protein requirements HNS (35% vs. 0%, respectively, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest a potential opportunity for dietary intervention in younger individuals to prevent future sequalae of malnutrition in COPD.