Anthropometry and BODE Index in Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients and its Correlation with Disease Severity and Health-Related Quality of Life

Introduction: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are often malnourished with resultant poor health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study aimed to determine various anthropometric indices and the BODE index in stable COPD patients and correlate them with HRQoL using the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, observational study was done between August 2019 and September 2021 at a tertiary care hospital in 100 stable COPD patients. Results: Fifty-four males and 46 females with a mean age of 53 +/- 11 years. Average body mass index (BMI) was 21.27 +/- 2.62 kg/m2. The mean BODE index of the study participants was 4.37 +/- 1.78. The anthropometric indices - triceps/scapular skin fold thickness, waist-to-hip ratio, and mid-upper-arm circumference did not correlate significantly with worsening Global Initiative for COPD (GOLD) stages (one-way analysis of variance [ANOVA] P > 0.05). There was a correlation between decreasing BMI and the worsening GOLD stage (one-way ANOVA P < 0.05). The anthropometric indices did not correlate with the BODE Index (Pearson Correlation coefficient P > 0.05). On linear regression analysis, higher GOLD stage, higher Modified Medical Research Council grade, and lower BMI correlated with higher SGRQ score. Conclusion: Stable COPD patients with low BMI and poor BODE index had poor HRQoL. Other anthropometric indices did not correlate with HRQoL.