Impact of nutritional status on quality of life and inflammation in patients with bronchiectasis

<bold>Background:</bold> In patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (BE) there is a risk of malnutrition due to increased respiratory work and chronic inflammation. The aim was to evaluate the nutritional status of BE patients and its relationship with both health-related quality of life (QoL) and inflammation. <bold>Methods:</bold> In this cross-sectional observational study, the <italic>Mini Nutritional Assessment</italic> (MNA) questionnaire and <italic>QoL Questionnaire-Bronchiectasis v3.1</italic> (QOL-B) were used. Inflammatory cytokines and mediators (TNF-α, IL-1A, IL-1B, IL-4, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, IL-17A, IFN-γ) were quantified by multiplex immunoassays kit. Patients were categorised into 2 groups based on nutritional status: normal and vulnerable (risk of malnutrition or malnutrition). <bold>Results:</bold> A total of 60 patients were included; 42 (70%) women, 65±13 years. Out of them, 50% were normal and 50% were vulnerable. 5 out of the 8 QoL domains were significantly different among the groups (Fig. 1). Further, IL-1A levels in the vulnerable patients were significantly higher (median 18.23 vs. 25.63 pg/mL, p=0.03). These results were kept when considering QoL and IL-1A concurrently. <bold>Conclusions:</bold> In BE patients, the risk of malnutrition is associated with worse QoL and higher levels of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-1A. Thus, addressing the nutritional status may be key to enhance the QoL of these patients and should be considered in clinical management. <fig><object-id>erj;64/suppl_68/PA2300/F1</object-id><object-id>F1</object-id><object-id>F1</object-id><graphic></graphic></fig>