Skeletal Atrophy in Low-Weight COPD Patients

The unexplained low body weight of many patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is due to the atrophy of skeletal muscle, which also results in lower exercise capacity than that found in COPD patients with a normal body mass index, according to a study conducted by Spanish researchers. The study was published in the August 15, 2002, issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (AJRCCM).

The investigators found that skeletal muscle cell death and atrophy were increased in seven COPD patients with a low body mass index (BMI), as compared to eight COPD patients with normal weight, eight healthy volunteers, and six sedentary volunteers. This suggests that weight loss is caused by muscle atrophy. Also, the researchers found that exercise capacity in the underweight patients was better correlated with their BMI than with the degree of their airflow restriction.

The study was conducted by investigators at the Hospital Universitari Son Dureta (Palma de Mallorca, Spain).