Relationship between body fat, lean body mass and disease severity in AECOPD patients

Background We tend to find out whether BMI and weight have difference in the connection with the disease severity of AECOPD patients. Besides, we aim to explore the relationships between body fat (BF) and lean body mass (LBM) with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). Methods Information like weight and body mass index (BMI) were recorded at hospital admission. BF and LBM were assessed using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Logistic regression analysis, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and other statistical analyses were performed. Results Weight and BF + LBM showed significant linkages with the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) in multivariate logistic regression analysis (Model 3: OR = 0.932, p = 0.016; OR = 0.915, p = 0.006, respectively). And BMI did not show correlation with GOLD. In Stratification analysis, BF showed the predictive value for GOLD (AUC = 0.709, p = 0.004) while LBM showed the predictive ability for modified Medical Research Council scale (mMRC) (AUC = 0.761, p Conclusion BF + LBM and weight were better than BMI in the connection with the disease severity of AECOPD patients represtented by GOLD. BF and LBM may have different or even opposite effects on patients with AECOPD.