Although principally an inflammatory respiratory disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD) is now recognised as a complex disorder that also manifests in
extrapulmonary and systemic effects. Nutritional manifestations of the disease, notably
weight loss and obesity, have been recognised. However, the complexity of nutritional
problems in COPD has been poorly understood, and the consequences largely underrated. Now,
linked to increasing knowledge regarding systemic inflammation, it is becoming clear that poor
nutritional status is not only a manifestation of COPD but also a predictor of mortality and
healthcare utilisation.
