THE INFLUENCE OF BODY MASS INDEX ON THE PROGNOSIS OF PATIENTS WITH COPD: THE EFFECT OF METABOLIC SYNDROME AND THE VALIDITY OF THE OBESITY PARADOX

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is increasingly recognized as a complex systemic disease rather than a condition limited to the lungs.Malnutrition, cachexia, and obesity contribute to d ecreased exercise capacity, higher rates of exacerbations and increased mortality.The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of the body mass index (BMI) on the prognosis of patients diagnosed with COPD, in the presence or absence of MetS.Materials and methods: A total of 100 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COPD were enrolled in the study, of whom 65 patients met the diagnostic criteria for MetS.Patients were evaluated based on clinical, anthropometric, and laboratory parameters.BMI was calculated for each patient, and its association with disease prognosis was subsequently analyses, considering the pre sence or absence of MetS.Results: The patients were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of metabolic syndrome.Both BMI and waist circumference showed st atistically significant differences between groups (p<0.001).Plasma glucose levels were si gnificantly higher in COPD patients with MetS and BMI 25 kg/m 2 compared to those without MetS (p= 0.020).Plasma triglyceride levels were also significantly higher in the same group (p= 0.034).No statistically significant differences were observed for systolic and dia stolic blood pressure across the groups (p> 0.05).Conclusions: Continuous monitoring of BMI and the prevention of cachexia are essential strategies for reducing mortality rates, whereas the prevention of obesity contributes to the reduction of cardiovascular complic ations.