RATIONALE: 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.
METHODS: The results in this cross-sectional study are based on 169 COPD patients (62 % females). Body composition was assessed using bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy and the patients reported NIS by two newly developed questionnaires; Eating Symptoms Questionnaire (ESQ) and 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 to men (p<0.05). Thirty-six percent of the patients were depleted (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 to non-depleted (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSION: Nutrition impact symptoms 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 if NIS prevention/treatment can affect development of malnutrition in patients with COPD is a challenge for the future.