Does Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 Correlate with the Dyspnea Status of Patients with GOLD Stage C-D Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease?

Objectives: Dyspnea is a prominent symptom of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and patients with GOLD Stage C-D often complain of dyspnea, but the relationship between their dyspnea level and their nutritional status and has not been established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the dyspnea levels and nutritional status of stable COPD patients in outpatients clinic.

Methods: Medical records including mMRC (Modified Medical Research Council) Dyspnea Scale and nutritional status of 41 patients investigated in the study. Mean age of patients was 71.7±9.2 years. The Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS-2002) tool, body mass index (BMI) and mid-upper arm circumference were used to evaluate their nutritional status. We used correlation analysis to display the relationship between NRS-2002 score and mMRC, COPD stage, biochemical and anthropometric parameters indicating nutritional status of patients.

Results: Out of the 41 COPD patients 87.8% (36) were men, and 12.2% (5) were women. GOLD stages of the patients were 29.3% stage C and 70.7% stage D. Risk of malnutrition (NRS≥3) were detected in 48.8% of the patients, whereas 51.2% (NRS<3) were not. Mid-upper arm circumference of patients with risk was lower (25.6±3.2 vs 29.9±2.7 cm, p=0.032). The NRS-2002 had a positive correlation with mMRC (r=0.351, p=0.024). There was a statistically significant negative correlation between NRS-2002 and mid-upper arm circumference (r=0.604, p<0.0001). Also there was a negative correlation between BMI and mid-upper arm circumference (r=0.699, p<0.0001).

Conclusion: Malnutrition risk was common in stable COPD patients in outpatients, this seems to adversely affect their dyspnea level. Therefore, while clinicans plan the treatment of COPD patients in outpatient clinics, their evaluation the nutritional status of patients and taking precautions accordingly may contribute to the reduction of shortness of breath which is one of the most important symptoms of the disease.

Cite this article as: Ogan N, Yıldırım F, Süzen B, et al. Does Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 Correlate with  Dyspnea Status of Patients with GOLD Stage C-D Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease? Turk Thorac J 2020; 21(1): 49-53.