It's What ’s Inside that Counts: Body Composition and Lung Transplantation

AbstractPurpose of ReviewFactors such as weight, body composition, and functional status appear to influence lung transplant outcomes. Body mass index (BMI) is incorporated into the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation ’s (ISHLT) recipient selection guidelines. Data suggests BMI does not effectively differentiate patients with high body fat percentage or low lean muscle mass, leading to both over and under estimates of candidates’ risks.Recent FindingsRecent research has focused on alternate measures and estimates of body composition and their associations with important lung transplant outcomes. Herein, we review the current literature on body composition in lung transplantation, including the variety of measurements used and the concepts of obesity, low muscle mass, and frailty.SummaryThe concept of body composition is evolving beyond the relationship between weight and height as represented by a calculated body mass index. Radiographic assessments and serum markers allow for a more precise and representative measurement of body composition which takes into consideration fat percentage and muscle mass.
Source: Current Respiratory Care Reports - Category: Respiratory Medicine Source Type: research