title: Weight loss in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Mechanisms and implications.
abstract: Weight loss occurs frequently in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Although the precise cellular mechanisms underlying weight loss in COPD are unclear, this is a clinically relevant phenomenon because it contributes to limit the exercise capacity of these patients and, therefore, it jeopardizes their quality of life. More importantly, it is a negative prognostic factor that is independent of the degree of lung function impairment present. Thus, weight loss in COPD constitutes a new therapeutic target. This article reviews the mechanisms and potential consequences of weight loss in COPD and highlights areas that needed future research. It is hoped that a better understanding of its pathogenesis may eventually contribute to the development of new therapeutic strategies that contribute to improve the well-being and/or long-term prognosis of patients suffering from this devastating disease and, potentially, from others characterized also by unexplained weight loss.
authors.affiliation: Servei de Pneumologia, Hospital Universitari Son Dureta, Palma de Mallorca, Spain. aagusti@hsd.es
authors.forename: Alvar G N
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Agust
authors.forename: Patricia G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Gari
authors.forename: Jaume
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sauleda
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Busquets
mesh_terms: D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*