Screening method evaluated by nutritional status measurements can be used to detect malnourishment in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

• Published in: Journal of the American Dietetic Association
• Main Authors: Thorsdottir, I, Gunnarsdottir, I, Eriksen, B
• Other Authors: Unit of Nutrition Research, National University Hospital, PO Box 10, IS-121 Reykjavik, Iceland. [e-mail]
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: American Dietetic Association 2008
• Subjects: Aged; Body Height; Body Mass Index; Body Weight; Female; Humans; Lung Diseases; Obstructive; Lymphocyte Count; Male; Mass Screening; Nutrition Assessment; Nutrition Disorders; Nutritional Status; Prealbumin; Predictive Value of Tests; Sensitivity and Specificity; Serum Albumin; Skinfold Thickness; Weight Loss; Iceland
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2336/33533; https://doi.org/10.1016/S0002-8223(01)00163-8

To access publisher full text version of this article. Please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links field OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and develop a screening method for malnutrition among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). DESIGN: Findings from a screening sheet for malnutrition were compared with results from full nutritional assessment. The screening sheet included 7 questions regarding body mass index, anorexia, loss of weight, and other variables possibly affecting nutritional status. Each answer was assigned a point value, and a total of 4 and 5 points were tested as criterion for malnutrition. Full nutrition assessment included measurements of weight and height (body mass index), serum albumin and prealbumin, total lymphocyte count, triceps skinfold thickness, mid-arm muscle circumference or area, and information on unintentional weight loss. Malnutrition was defined by 3 or more values below reference values. SUBJECTS: Randomly selected patients (n = 34) with a clinical diagnosis of COPD, 15% of eligible patients admitted to the Department of Lung Medicine at National University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland, during the time of the study. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values were calculated to evaluate the screening sheet. Each of the 7 parameters used in a full nutrition assessment was similarly evaluated as an indicator to predict malnutrition. RESULTS: Full nutrition assessment identified 13 of 34 patients (38%) as malnourished. Using 4 points as a criterion for malnutrition, the screening sheet to be used for patients with COPD resulted in sensitivity of 0.69 and specificity of 0.90. CONCLUSION: The results confirm the frequent finding of malnutrition among patients with COPD and show that a simple screening sheet can be used to identify which patients need further nutrition assessment and treatment.