Correlation between orexin level and malnutrition in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Objective To explore the influence of the change of plasma orexin level on undemutrition in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at stable stage.Methods The plasma cytokines including orexin,leptin,and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and human nutrition parameter [body mass index (BMI)] of 40 patients with COPD at stable stage and 20 healthy people were measured.The correlation of orexin with leptin,TNF-α,and BMI were analyzed.Results The plasma orexin level in undemutrition patients with COPD at stable stage [(0.11 ±0.01) μg/L] was significantly lower than non-undemutrition patients with COPD at stable stage [(0.16 ±0.02) μg/L] (P =0.000) and healthy people [(0.15 ±0.02) μg/L] (P=0.002).The plasma orexin levels in 40 patients from COPD at stable stage [(0.14 ±0.03) μgL] was negatively correlated with the plasma leptin [(16.05 ±3.56) ng/L] and TNF-α levels [(9.18 ± 2.70) ng/L] (r =-0.295 and-0.477,P =0.049 and 0.002,respectively).The plasma orexin level in 40 patients from COPD at stable stage was positively correlated with BMI [(20.88 ± 4.20) kg/m2](r =0.641,P =0.000).Conclusion Plasma orexin level is closely correlated with nutrition status. Key words: Stable phase chronic obstructive pulmonary disease;  Orexin;  Malnutrition