Changes in body weight and physical performance after receiving dietary advice in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): 1-year follow-up

Nutritional studies in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are often based on oral nutritional supplementation and are of short duration. Our aim was to study the changes in body weight and physical performance in COPD patients after receiving the dietary advice for 1 year. Thirty-six patients with COPD as a primary diagnosis (mean age: 68.5 ± 7.8 years), referred to a pulmonary rehabilitation program were studied. Each patient received dietary advice individually. Body weight had increased significantly by 1.3 kg (p = 0.02) and walking distance by 83.2 m (p = 0.007) after 1 year. There was an increase in mean handgrip strength after 1 year (1.6 kg, p = 0.07). The mean intake of energy and protein expressed as percent of energy and protein requirement had increased after 1 year (15%, p < 0.001, and 5.6%, p = 0.09, respectively). Handgrip strength correlated significantly with energy (r = 0.53, p = 0.002), fat (r = 0.50, p = 0.02) and protein intake (r = 0.41, p = 0.002) after 1 year. In conclusion, positive effects on body weight, handgrip strength and walking distance in patients with COPD were seen after receiving dietary advice with a 1-year follow-up.