Abstract

SOUZA DOS SANTOS SIMON, M. I. et al. Association of nutritional status, plasma, albumin levels and pulmonary function in cystic fibrosis. Nutr. Hosp. [online]. 2011, vol.26, n.6, pp.1322-1327. ISSN 1699-5198.

Background & aims: Malnutrition is related with pulmonary disease. The aim was to analyze the association of lung function respectively to nutritional status, identified pulmonary pathogens and socioeconomic condition of patients attending a pediatric CF reference center. Methods: Cross-sectional study performed with CF patients aged 6 to 18 years attending a CF-Center in southern Brazil. Nutritional status, plasma albumin level and pulmonary bacterial colonization were assessed. The outcome studied was forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁). Results: Eighty-five patients were included in this study. FEV₁ was significantly associated with body mass index (BMI) percentiles, plasma albumin level and methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) pulmonary colonization. Regression analysis showed that BMI below the 10^th percentile was associated with a 25.58% drop in FEV₁, and plasma albumin levels equal to or lower than 4.1 mg/dL was associated with 18.6% FEV₁ reduction. FEV₁ was 14.4% lower in the MRSA infected patients. Plasma albumin of 4.25 mg/dL predicted FEV₁ of 60% with 76.9% sensitivity and 72.2% specificity, and 85.7% accuracy. The socioeconomic status was not association with pulmonary function. Conclusion: BMI below the 10^th percentile and albumin below 4.1 mg/dL were predictors of low FEV₁. Chronic MRSA infection was associated with lower FEV₁. Longitudinal studies may better complement these results.

Keywords : Cystic fibrosis; Nutritional status; Pulmonary function.

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