Comparison of Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index scores on physical performance among elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) is a new prognostic indicator for nutritional status-related complications and mortality among the elderly. Here we aimed to compare 6-min walk distance (6MWD) between high and low GNRI groups for patients with COPD. METHODS: We enrolled 63 elderly men with COPD. These subjects were divided into two groups based on their GNRI scores high GNRI group (≥92 points; n = 44) and low GNRI group (n = 19); we compared 6MWD between these groups. RESULTS: The subjects' characteristics between the high and the low GNRI groups were similar, except for BMI and serum albumin levels. 6MWD were significantly lower in the low GNRI group (279.5 ± 112.3 m versus 211.1 ± 125.3 m; p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: The GNRI has a more close relation with exercise tolerance and may be a useful nutritional assessment scale for elderly patients with COPD.