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.Aims:To study the prevalence of undernutrition among stable COPD patients and correlation of COPD severity with SpO2 and BMI.Settings and Design:A prospective study was carried out at a tertiary care hospital.Subjects and 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.

No abstract

Aims& Objective: To assess the relative efficiency of budesonide administered from different delivery devices to adult patients of chronic stable bronchial asthma as measured by pulmonary function test parameters. Materials and Methods:This prospective study was undertaken to assess the relative efficiency of budesonide administered from different delivery devices to adult patients of chronic stable bronchial asthma as measured by pulmonary function test parameters. Fifty subjects where administered budesonide (1 mg) via nebulizer, budesonide (400 microgram) by metered dose inhaler, metered dose inhaler with spacer and dry powder inhaler consecutively each week for four weeks under direct supervision. Pulmonary function test was done before and one hour after administration of the drug on each visit. Results:No significant difference in Peak expiratory flow rate (P=0.77), forced expiratory volume in one second (P=0.95), forced vital capacity (P=0.24) and forced expiratory volume in one second and forced vital capacity ratio (P=0.22) was seen after giving budesonide by different devices. Conclusion:Budesonide delivered by different devices (nebulizer, metered dose inhaler, metered dose inhaler with spacer and dry powder inhaler) have similar effect on lung function in patients of chronic stable bronchial asthma and may be used interchangeably.