Prevalence of Sarcopenic Obesity in COPD

From the review of the literature, there is a wide interest on both excess and deficient malnutrition in COPD patients, and more and more interest is being paid to sarcopenic obesity, which is a clinico-functional condition characterized by the coexisting presence of obesity, characterized by excess fat mass (FM), and sarcopenia, defined as reduced muscle mass and reduced function.

In the literature, there is no unambiguity on the diagnosis of sarcopenic obesity in terms of diagnostic criteria and cut-offs. Only recently, in 2022, have criteria for the diagnosis of sarcopenic obesity been defined through ESPEN/EASO consensus [Donini et al, 2022], shared by the international scientific community (Sarcopenic Obesity Global Leadership Initiative (SOGLI)).

The prevalence of sarcopenia in COPD patients is estimated to be 27% (He et al, 2023).Specifically, on the Italian population, at present it is known that the prevalence of sarcopenia in COPD is 24% (De Blasio et al, 2018), and that the prevalence of sarcopenia in obese individuals in the general population is 20 percent (Poggiogalle et al, 2026) but there are no recent studies showing what is the prevalence of sarcopenic obesity (diagnosed with ESPEN/EASO criteria) in COPD subjects in the Italian population.

This study aims to apply ESPEN/EASO criteria to identify obese sarcopenic patients and calculate the prevalence of sarcopenic obesity in COPD patients.

Finally, with this work, the investigators aim to study the impact of sarcopenic obesity on respiratory function (using both spirometric and ultrasonographic parameters to study the diaphragm), performance, degree of dyspnea, and thus quality of life in COPD patients, emphasizing the importance of early diagnosis in individuals with sarcopenic obesity in order to be able to intervene through targeted nutritional strategies to treat patients with chronic conditions, such as COPD, that significantly impact quality of life and health status.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients aged > 40 years of either sex;
• BMI >18.5
• COPD diagnosis according to the GOLD [2021 Global initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease] classification in the stable stage;
• Signing of informed consent after receiving all information about the study.

Exclusion criteria

• COPD not stabilized at the time of enrollment;
• BMI < 18.5
• presence of tracheostomy
• uncontrolled hypertension (systolic blood pressure > 160 mmHg, diastolic > 100 mmHg);
• hypotension (systolic blood pressure <100 mm Hg);
• Significant comorbidities that limit exercise tolerance;
• intercurrent infectious diseases, including HIV diagnosis;
• Patients diagnosed with malignancy in progress or in remission for less than 5 years;
• patients diagnosed with severe neurological, rheumatologic, or musculoskeletal diseases;
• patients with a history of thoracic surgery;
• presence of severe aortic stenosis, uncontrolled atrial/ventricular arrhythmia, recent cardiac ischemic event;
• cognitive impairment conditions that prevent full understanding of the study protocol (mental retardation, dementia, etc.) and/or adequate test performance compliance;
• failure to sign informed consent;
• any other serious medical condition that may interfere with data interpretation and safety or that may make the respiratory rehabilitation course difficult, limited, or uncomfortable.