Impact of malnutrition and sarcopenia on the outcomes of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with COPD

Malnutrition and sarcopenia are common conditions in older people and are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The results of the Malnut-Reha study, which was conducted in 5 Swiss rehabilitation centers and investigated the prevalence of these conditions in inpatient rehabilitation, have recently been published. The present subgroup analysis assesses the impact of malnutrition and sarcopenia on pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) outcomes in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).A total of 67 patients with COPD from 2 Swiss rehabilitation centers were included in the analysis. Standardized assessments were used to evaluate rehabilitation outcomes, including the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), the Functional Independence Measure (FIM), and the handgrip strength measurement (HGS). The prevalence of malnutrition and sarcopenia was 46% each, with 33% of patients presenting both conditions. Despite the worst initial physical and functional status, patients with malnutrition and/or sarcopenia showed significant improvements in 6MWT and FIM after PR, independently of their nutritional status or muscle mass.The findings of this analysis confirm the effectiveness of PR in patients with COPD, regardless of the presence of malnutrition or sarcopenia. Future studies should investigate whether extended targeted nutritional and exercise interventions could provide additional benefits.