Body composition and functional capacity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

The systemic effects associated with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), are related to alterations in body composition in these patients. The phase angle (PA) is the most extensively used parameter of electrical bioimpedance for the diagnosis of malnutrition since it is an indicator of water distribution, body cell mass (BCM) and cellular integrity. Therefore, the aim of this study is to compare the PA values of patients with COPD and healthy individuals and to study their relationship with parameters of lung function and functional capacity. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) was carried out in order to determine PA in 35 patients with COPD and 36 controls. In the group of women, the PA value was significantly lower in those who had COPD with respect to their controls. For both sexes, in patients with COPD the relationship with PA was inversely proportional to age and gait speed and directly proportional to weight, height, hand dynamometry and fat-free mass. We conclude that, in patients with COPD, the decrease in PA is related to impaired body composition and functional capacity. In particular, the PA could be a useful parameter for evaluating not only the body composition but also the functional capacity of these patients.