7.10 AORTIC STIFFNESS AND BODY MASS INDEX (BMI) IN CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE (COPD)

Abstract

Background: Patients with COPD have increased Cardiovascular (CV) risk and commonly present with altered body composition. Patients with COPD and a low BMI have poorer health outcomes1, while obesity may increase CV risk2. The aim of this analysis was to explore BMI, CV risk, exercise capacity and systemic inflammation in COPD. Methods: This analysis included 524 stable patients with COPD (confirmed with spirometry) from the ARCADE (Assessment of Risk in Chronic Airways Disease Evaluation) study. Assessments included lung function (forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)), smoking history, BMI, aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) (SphygmoCor device), blood pressure (BP), 6-minute walking distance (6MWD). Inflammation was measured by high sensitivity C-reactive protein (HsCRP) and fibrinogen. Patients were classified by BMI as follows: low (<19.9 Kgm2), healthy (20–24.9Kgm2), overweight (25–29.9Kgm2) obese (>30Kg/m2). Results: There was no difference in gender, age, lung function or smoking history between patients grouped according to BMI. However, there was a difference in PWV, systolic BP, 6MWD and inflammation between the groups (p<0.05). The difference in PWV remained after adjustment for age and mean BP (Table 1). Overweight and obese patients (BMI <25) had greater PWV and inflammation, while obese patients had the poorest 6MWD. Conclusions: The findings suggest obese patients with COPD have greater CV risk which may be a result of poorer physical capacity and greater inflammation. Optimisation of BMI in COPD may improve outcomes further follow-up of this cohort will evaluate the prognostic value of arterial stiffness and possible therapeutic targets.