Clinical outcome and cost-effectiveness of a 1-year nutritional intervention programme in COPD patients with low muscle mass: The randomized controlled NUTRAIN trial

Summary Background and aims The efficacy of nutritional intervention to enhance short- and long-term outcomes of pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD is still unclear, hence this paper aims to investigate the clinical outcome and cost-effectiveness of a 12-month nutritional intervention strategy in muscle-wasted COPD patients. Methods Prior to a 4-month pulmonary rehabilitation programme, 81 muscle-wasted COPD patients (51% males, aged 62.5 ± 0.9 years) with moderate airflow obstruction (FEV 1 55.1 ± 2.2% predicted) and impaired exercise capacity (W max 63.5 ± 2.4% predicted) were randomized to 3 portions of nutritional supplementation per day (enriched with leucine, vitamin D and polyunsaturated fatty acids) [NUTRITION] or PLACEBO (phase 1). In the unblinded 8-month maintenance phase (phase 2), both groups received structured feedback on their physical activity level assessed by accelerometry. NUTRITION additionally received 1 portion of supplemental nutrition per day and motivational interviewing-based nutritional counselling. A 3-month follow-up (phase 3) was included. Results After 12 months, physical capacity measured by quadriceps muscle strength and cycle endurance time were not different, but physical activity was higher in NUTRITION than in PLACEBO (Δ1030 steps/day, p  = 0.025). Plasma levels of the enriched nutrients ( p p  = 0.041). The HADS anxiety and depression scores improved in NUTRITION only (Δ-1.92 points, p  = 0.037). Generic quality of life (EQ-5D) was decreased in PLACEBO but not in NUTRITION (between-group difference after 15 months 0.072 points, p  = 0.009). Overall motivation towards exercising and healthy eating was high and did not change significantly after 12 months; only amotivation towards healthy eating yielded a significant between-group difference (Δ1.022 points, p  = 0.015). The cost per quality-adjusted life-year after 15 months was EUR 16,750. Conclusions Nutritional intervention in muscle-wasted patients with moderate COPD does not enhance long-term outcome of exercise training on physical capacity but ameliorates plasma levels of the supplemented nutrients, total body weight, physical activity and generic health status, at an acceptable increase of costs for patients with high disease burden.