Last update:

   14-Oct-2014
 

Arch Hellen Med, 31(5), September-October 2014, 599-605

ORIGINAL PAPER

Health status assessment in patients with COPD: The contribution of BMI

C. Kleisiaris,1 I. Papathanasiou,2 M. Plaiti,1 M. Maniou,1 I. Tourna,1 D. Pissadaki1
1Department of Nursing, Technological Educational Institute of Crete, Heraklion,
2Department of Nursing, Technological Educational Institute of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece

OBJECTIVE To assess possible Δ-changes in the health status of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) over time, and specifically the contribution of body mass index (BMI).

METHOD A prospective study was made of 50 patients with already diagnosed COPD in a private medical care setting. The impact of COPD-related symptoms on their health status was assessed using the COPD Assessment Test (CAT), which consists of 8 questions with Likert-type responses of 0−5, with a total score of 0−40; a higher CAT score indicates a greater burden on the health status. The BMI of the participants was assessed as follows: normal (18.5−24.9), overweight (25−29.9) and obese (>=30). Δ-changes in the CAT score were assessed by three measurements over a 6-month period. Correlation between the CAT score and BMI was assessed using the Kruskal Wallis method and simple linear logistic regression. A p-value of <=0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS About half of the patients (52%) were aged 65 years and over and 42% were overweight or obese and smokers at enrolment. A significant improvement in the health status of patients with COPD was observed from the 1st to the 2nd and 3rd measurements (mean 12.5±7.4, 10.4±7.2, and 8.1±7.2, respectively, p<0.001). The BMI was significantly associated with Δ-changes in health status between measurements: 3rd−1st, p=0.025 and 3rd−2nd, p=0.039 (y=-12.5+0.28*x, p=0.049), showing a linear trend; specifically, patients with a greater BMI had higher health status scores, but to a significant degree only for patients with normal BMI.

CONCLUSIONS The maintenance of normal body weight significantly improves the health status in the daily life of patients with COPD.

Key words: Body mass index, COPD, Quality of life, Spirometry.


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