Nutritional status and dietary intake of outpatients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Aim: To determine, in Australian chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) outpatients, the prevalence of nutritional depletion, adequacy of dietary intake and relationship between nutritional depletion and clinical indicators. Methods: Cross-sectional study of 66 stable COPD outpatients (mean forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) of 60% predicted (95% confidence interval 54, 67) ). Nutritional status was assessed using body mass index (BMI) and fat-free mass index (FFMI). Four-day estimated food records were compared with the new Australian Nutrient Reference Values. Clinical indicators included respiratory function and quality of life (QoL) using the St George Respiratory Questionnaire. Results: Thirty per cent of subjects (n = 20) were nutritionally depleted (BMI