[Low body mass index and exercise capacity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)].

This study examined retrospectively the relationships between body weight and exercise capacity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Seventeen patients with a %FEV1 less than 55% (mean +/- SD 36% +/- 8.8%) and minimum body weights of the body mass index (BMI) less than 20 (17.