Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a simple, inexpensive, quick and non-invasive technique for measuring body composition. The clinical benefit of BIA can be further enhanced by combining it with bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA). However, there is a substantial lack of information on the practical aspects of BIA/BIVA for those primarily interested in learning how to use and interpret this method in practice. The purpose of this article is to provide some guidance on the use of BIA/BIVA with special attention to practical considerations.This report reflects the authors' practical experience with the use of single-frequency BIA in combination with BIVA, particularly in COPD patients. First, the method and principles of BIA/BIVA are briefly described. Then, a practice-oriented approach to the interpretation and analysis of characteristic examples of altered nutritional and fluid status as seen with BIA/BIVA in COPD patients (e.g. malnutrition in obese and underweight patients with COPD, water retention) is presented.As our examples show BIA/BIVA is an attractive and easy-to-learn tool for quick nutritional assessment and is therefore of great clinical benefit in daily practice.

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often have reduced physical activity, which can impair health status. Real-world data can provide valuable information on the health and functional status of patients with COPD treated with tiotropium/olodaterol.AERIAL® (NCT03165045) was a German, non-interventional study of patients with COPD receiving treatment with tiotropium/olodaterol under real-world conditions for approximately 6 weeks. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving a decrease of ≥0.4 points in Clinical COPD Questionnaire (CCQ) score. The CCQ-4 subdomain was used to assess functional status, and the Physician's Global Evaluation (PGE) scale to assess the patients’ general condition. Safety was also assessed, as well as patient satisfaction and willingness to continue treatment.Of 1351 screened patients, 1322 were treated and 1140 comprised the full analysis set. The primary endpoint was met: 66.3% of patients achieved a ≥0.4-point decrease in overall CCQ score (mean decrease±standard deviation [sd] 0.78±0.95). Mean decrease ±sd in CCQ symptoms and functional state subdomains were 0.84±1.06 and 0.75±1.05 points, respectively. PGE scores improved. One fatality (not treatment-related) and 23 drug-related adverse events were recorded, most commonly nausea and vertigo. Over 85% of patients were satisfied/very satisfied with tiotropium/olodaterol overall and with the Respimat device, both in terms of inhalation and handling. Most patients (95.2%) expressed willingness to continue treatment.Patients with COPD treated with tiotropium/olodaterol via Respimat in routine clinical practice had clinically relevant improvements in health and functional status compared with baseline.

Introduction The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD 2023) no longer recommends a long-acting β 2 -agonist (LABA) plus inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) combination for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In patients treated with LABA/ICS, who continue to experience symptoms without frequent or severe exacerbations, GOLD now recommends switching to long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA)/LABA instead of escalating to triple therapy (TT; LAMA/LABA/ICS), which previously was also a recommended option. EVELUT ® , a real-life, observational study, compared these two treatment strategies in terms of symptom relief and health status improvement. Methods Patients with symptomatic COPD at low exacerbation risk (GOLD B) were switched, at their physicians’ discretion, from LABA/ICS to either fixed-dose LAMA/LABA (tiotropium/olodaterol, Respimat ® [Tio/Olo]) or fixed or free TT. Primary endpoints were change in modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) and COPD Assessment Test™ (CAT™) scores after 12 weeks. Results The safety set contained 463 patients (Tio/Olo, n = 329; TT, n = 134). In a propensity score-matched set (Tio/Olo, n = 121; TT, n = 121), improvement in mMRC score was similar in patients on Tio/Olo (–0.23; 95% confidence interval [CI] –0.11, –0.36) and TT (–0.25; 95% CI –0.13, –0.38). Improvement in total CAT score was slightly larger in patients on Tio/Olo (–3.45; 95% CI –2.45, –4.45) versus TT (–2.51; 95% CI –1.62, –3.40). In both groups, Physician’s Global Evaluation scores increased, with 69–89% of patients satisfied with their treatment overall. Marginally more patients on Tio/Olo responded to treatment versus TT (Δ mMRC score ≥ 1; 25% vs. 22%; Δ CAT score ≥ 2, 68% vs. 56%). Conclusion In patients with symptomatic COPD at low exacerbation risk, treatment can be switched from LABA/ICS to LAMA/LABA without compromising clinical benefit, compared with escalating to LAMA/LABA/ICS. Switching from LABA/ICS to LAMA/LABA can provide symptom relief and improve health status without exposure to the risks associated with ICS. Clinical Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03954132. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12325-023-02524-y.