Body composition and lung function in adults with Cystic Fibrosis

Abstract

The study aimed to assess: (1) differences in nutritional status and lung function between CF patients and the control group; (2) differences in body composition and lung function between groups of patients with CF designated by type of mutation; (3) the relationship between lung function and body composition in CF patients.

We studied 37 CF patients aged 19 to 51 years, and 41 healthy non-CF volunteers. Nutritional status was evaluated based on the BMI and the bioelectrical impedance analysis. The lung function was described by FEV1%. CF patients were classified according to the CFTR genotype based on five classes of mutations. BMI were lower in CF patients compared to reference group (women: Z = 3.76, p <0.001, men: Z = 3.06, p = 0.002). CF patients had a lower mean content of particular body components, as well as FEV1% values. BMI differed significantly depending on the type of mutation in females (H = 10.33, p = 0.006) and males (H = 8.26, p = 0.016). The lowest values of BMI were observed in the group of patients with severe types of mutations. Also, variables describing body composition were statistically significantly lower in patients with a severe type of mutations. The CFTR gene mutation type statistically significantly differentiated FEV1% (H = 23.22, p <0.000). The results of the logistic regression analysis showed that the likelihood of dropping FEV1% below the norm was twice as high in undernourished females and males. To assess the nutritional status of CF patients, more informative methods describing the proportions of body components are required.