Subjective global assessment of nutritional status of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients on admission.

BACKGROUND: Identifying chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with malnutrition is important to prevent associated mortality due to poor pulmonary function. There is currently no consensus regarding the application of the subjective global assessment (SGA) tool in Indian patients.

OBJECTIVE: To assess nutritional status using the SGA method in Indian COPD patients.

METHODS: A total of 106 hospitalised patients with COPD were included (mean age 55.58 +/- 7.82, male/female = 92/14). Pulmonary function tests, anthropometric measurements and biochemical tests were conducted in all subjects. The association of SGA scores (A, B or C) and body mass index (BMI) groups with other biochemical parameters were tested for statistical significance.

RESULTS: Of the 106 patients, 83% were malnourished (BMI < 20 kg/m(2)). According to SGA scores, 17.0% were well nourished, 59.5% were moderately malnourished and 23.5% were severely malnourished. SGA scores correlated positively with pulmonary function parameters and negatively with anthropometric parameters. However, there was no correlation for biochemical parameters.

CONCLUSION: The SGA is a simple screening tool for the assessment of the nutritional status of COPD patients in India.