Article

Weight loss is common in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD). Anorexia, postulated to be associated with alteration in taste
sensitivity, may contribute to weight loss in these patients. Pulmonary
rehabilitation is known to lead to improved exercise performance in patients with
COPD. However, the relationship between pulmonary rehabilitation and taste
sensitivity has not been evaluated. The objective of this study was to compare
taste sensitivity before and after pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with
COPD. DESIGN: Single-group intervention trial. PATIENTS: Twenty-two patients with
COPD. METHODS: The six-min walk distance (6MWD), COPD assessment test, body mass
index, fat mass index, fat-free mass index and taste test were conducted before
and after 4-week pulmonary rehabilitation. Taste sensitivity was evaluated using
the filter-paper disc method for 4 taste stimuli. Taste stimuli were salty,
sweet, sour, and bitter tastes. Taste sensitivity was evaluated before and after
pulmonary rehabilitation using the taste recognition threshold. RESULTS:
Following pulmonary rehabilitation, the 6MWD, COPD assessment test, salty
recognition threshold, sweet recognition threshold and bitter recognition
threshold improved significantly, whereas there were no significant improvements
in body mass index, fat mass index, fat-free mass index or sour recognition
threshold. CONCLUSION: Pulmonary rehabilitation may improve taste sensitivity in
patients with COPD.

Langue : ANGLAIS