BODY-COMPOSITION AND HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY-OF-LIFE IN PATIENTS WITH OBSTRUCTIVE AIRWAYS DISEASE

This study evaluated the effects of body weight and lean mass abnormal ities on health-related quality of life (HRQL) in obstructive airways disease, Body weight, lean mass (using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometr y), and HRQL (using the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ)) were measured in 50 patients. Low lean mass was defined as a lean mass index (lean mass/height(2)) below the fifth percentile of a control p opulation, Dyspnoea was measured by the baseline dyspnoea index, The m ean (SD) age was 69+/-9 yrs; the forced expiratory volume in one secon d (FEV1) was 39+/-19% of predicted. Patients had 2.4+/-4,1 kg less lea n mass than predicted. Increased dyspnoea was the most influential pre dictor of poor HRQL. Compared to normal-weight patients, those who wer e underweight had significantly greater impairment in activity, impact , and total SGRQ scores, while those who were overweight had greater i mpairment in impact and total SGRQ scores, Low lean mass was associate d with greater impairment in symptoms, activity and impact subscores a nd the total SGRQ score, When dyspnoea was added to the model as a cov ariate, neither weight nor lean mass remained significantly related to HRQL, Thus, although body weight and lean mass abnormalities influenc e health-related quality of life, their effects appear to be mediated through increased levels of dyspnoea.