Quantitative CT-Derived extrapulmonary body composition and the risk of acute exacerbations in COPD: A prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is frequently accompanied by systemic manifestations, including muscle wasting, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular disease. However, the associations between extrapulmonary CT features and acute exacerbation (AE) risk remain incompletely understood. We investigated whether chest CT-derived measures of body composition, bone mineral density (BMD), and coronary artery calcification (CAC) are associated with AE risk and frequency in COPD.

METHODS

In this prospective observational cohort study, 306 patients with COPD and 83 healthy controls were enrolled. Quantitative chest CT was used to assess pectoralis muscle area (PMA), subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), thoracic vertebral BMD, and CAC. COPD patients were categorized according to the occurrence and frequency of AEs within one and two years. Group comparisons were performed using nonparametric and categorical statistical tests.

RESULTS

Compared with controls, patients with COPD had significantly lower PMA, SAT, and BMD (all p < 0.001), while CAC did not differ. Within one year, patients with AEs showed lower BMD than those without AEs (p = 0.032). Frequent exacerbators had reduced PMA and altered left circumflex artery calcification indices (p < 0.05). Over two years, patients with AEs exhibited greater left circumflex and total coronary calcification (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

CT-derived muscle mass, BMD, and coronary calcification are associated with AE risk and frequency in COPD, supporting the clinical relevance of extrapulmonary CT markers for exacerbation risk stratification.