OBJECTIVETo evaluate the value of Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) in geratic patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and analyze the correlation of MNA scores with BODE indexes.

METHODSA total of 139 geratic outpatients with stable COPD admitted from April 2012 to October 2012 were enrolled. The nutritional statuses of the patients were assessed using MNA and the patients were subsequently classified into well-nourished group, risk of malnutrition group and malnutrition group. For all the patients, the anthropometric parameters, pulmonary function and 6-minute-walk distance (6MWD) were examined, and functional dyspnea was evaluated using Modified Medical Research Council Scale (MMRC). The BODE indexes were calculated and analyzed for their correlation with the MNA scores.

RESULTSThe 3 groups showed no significant differences in gender distribution (P>0.05), but their age, anthropometric parameters and BODE indexes (BMI, MMRC, 6MWD, FEV1%pred) differed significantly (P<0.001). In all the patients, MNA scores showed a significant inverse correlation with BODE index (r=-0.602; P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONMNA scores are strongly correlated with the anthropometrical parameters and BODE indexes to allow screening of the nutritional status in patients with COPD. Nutrition is an important factor affecting the disease symptoms, and nutritional improvement is one of the effective measures to relieve the symptoms of COPD.