Body composition and nutrient intake of Sri Lankan adults living with COPD: a cross-sectional study

<bold>Introduction</bold>: COPD is a global problem that affects people’s quality of life, including their nutritional status, which can lead to reduced muscular strength and exercise intolerance. People with COPD often present to clinics with malnutrition but there is a lack of data in Sri Lanka. <bold>Aims</bold>: To describe the body composition and dietary intake of adults with COPD. <bold>Method</bold>: Descriptive cross-sectional study among 100 adults with COPD in Colombo. Height was measured with a calibrated stadiometer and weight, body mass index (BMI), and body fat percentage were measured with TANITA SC-240 bioelectrical impedance analysis. World Health Organization Asia Pacific BMI categorization and body fat categorization were used and basal metabolic rate (BMR) and nutrient intakes were analyzed in a sub-sample of 70 participants using a seven-day diet diary analyzed with NutriSurvey-2007. <bold>Results:</bold> Of the 100 participants, 62% were male, 61% were Sinhala and 38% were aged 61-70. The mean±SD BMR was 1070±192 Kcal/day and carbohydrate, fat, and protein intake were 260+22g/day, 33.8+5.5g/day, and 42+8.5g/day, respectively. <table-wrap><object-id>erj;64/suppl_68/PA520/TB1</object-id><object-id>T1</object-id><object-id>TB1</object-id><table><colgroup><col></col><col></col></colgroup><tbody><tr><td>BMI Category (kg/m2)</td><td>Proportion (%)</td></tr><tr><td>Underweight</td><td>46%</td></tr><tr><td>Normal</td><td>27%</td></tr><tr><td>Overweight</td><td>7%</td></tr><tr><td>Obesity</td><td>20%</td></tr><tr><td>Body Fat Percentages (Men)</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Low than acceptable (< 17%)</td><td>57%</td></tr><tr><td>Acceptable (18%-25%)</td><td>32%</td></tr><tr><td>Obesity (≥26%)</td><td>18%</td></tr><tr><td>Body Fat Percentages (Women)</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Low than acceptable (< 25%)</td><td>42%</td></tr><tr><td>Acceptable (26%-31%)</td><td>38%</td></tr><tr><td>Obesity (≥32%)</td><td>20%</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap> <bold>Conclusion:</bold> Underweight and low body fat percentage is a major nutritional problem in Sri Lankan adults with COPD. There was also a surprisingly high proportion of obesity. Dietary modifications should be explored in the context of interventions such as pulmonary rehabilitation.