title: Correlation of BMI and oxygen saturation in stable COPD in Northern India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with clinically relevant extra pulmonary manifestations; one of them is weight loss. However, there are very few studies from North India available in relation to body mass index (BMI) and Oxygen saturation (SpO2) with COPD.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the prevalence of undernutrition among stable COPD patients and correlation of COPD severity with SpO2 and BMI.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study was carried out at a tertiary care hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  COPD patients were diagnosed and staged as per global initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease (GOLD) guidelines. SpO2 was measured using pulse oxymeter and BMI categorization was done as per new classification for Asian Indians (2009). Statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 15.0.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 147 COPD patients, 85 (57.8%) were undernourished. The prevalence of undernourished BMI was 25%, 50.8%, 61.7%, and 80% in stage I, II, III and IV respectively; statistically significant (P < 0.050). The mean SpO2 was 95.50 ± 1.41, 95.05 ± 2.42, 94.37 ± 2.28 and 93.05 ± 1.39 in stage I, II, III and IV respectively; statistically significant (F = 4.723; P = 0.004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The overall prevalence of under nutrition among COPD patients was 57.8%. With increasing COPD stage the BMI and median SpO2 value decreased in progressive manner. Association of SpO2 and COPD stages could be explored further in order to suggest an additional marker of disease severity that would add a new dimension in the management of COPD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Era's Lucknow Medical College, Lucknow, India.
authors.forename: Shiv Sagar
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, ESI Hospital, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Dipti
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gothi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Era's Lucknow Medical College, Lucknow, India.
authors.forename: Gurpreet
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Narula
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Era's Lucknow Medical College, Lucknow, India.
authors.forename: Joydeep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sircar
keywords: BMI; COPD; SpO2; prevalence; undernutrition