The correlations between Activin A and lung function or nutritional status in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients

ZHONG Ping; JIANG Xue-lian; HUANG Cheng-liang; FAN Xian-ming

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1001-9448.2017.13.011

Abstract：Objective To investigate the correlations of serum Activin A level with the nutritional status and the lung function in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients.Methods Data of 200 patients with COPD (COPD group) and 100 healthy persons (control group) were collected.The results of mini nutritional assessment (MNA) were performed, and the lung function were tested.In the COPD group, patients with the Class Ⅰ-Ⅱ lung function were assigned into the mild-moderate subgroup and as the Class Ⅲ-Ⅳ paitents were assigned into the severe-very severe subgroup.Nutritional status was assessed by MNA.Results There was no significant difference in age, gender or smoking index between COPD group and control group (P>0.05).Compared with control group, FEV1%, FEV1/FVC%and MNA values were significantly reduced and Activin A serum level was increased significantly in the COPD group (P<0.05).Compared with control group, the serum level of Activin A were significantly increased in mild-moderate subgroup and severe-very severe subgroup.Compared with the mild-moderate subgroup, the Activin A level was significantly increased in severe-very severe subgroup (P<0.05).In control group, the level of Activin A in serum were significantly reduced compared with COPD group;and compared with malnourished (risk) COPD subgroup, the level of Activin A in serum was significantly reduced in well-nourished COPD subgroup (P<0.05).The Activin A level was significantly negatively correlated with FEV1% and MNA in COPD patients (r=-0.43 and-0.229, P<0.05).Conclusion The Activin A is associated with nutritional status and pulmonary function in patients with COPD, and Activin A may be involved in the development of malnutrition and airflow limitation in patients with COPD.