Background: Literature is sparse regarding disease related malnutrition (DRM) among patients with pulmonary fibrosis. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of unintended weight loss (UWL) within three months, reduced food intake (RFI) within the past week, and associations to nutrition impact symptoms (NIS), in an outpatient population of patients with pulmonary fibrosis.

Methods: The prevalence of UWL and NIS were sought in a cross-sectional questionnaire study, consecutively including a convenience sample of 100 patients, as they visited the outpatient clinic. Medical records were sought for time from diagnosis and comorbidities. Associations were examined through Chi square and simple logistic regression analysis.

Results: Among the 100 included patients, 66% were male, mean age was 68.1(SD 12.9), and BMI was 27.9 (SD 5.9). UWL was found in 18 (18%) with a mean weight loss of 6.2 Kg (SD 3.9), 16% had RFI and 7% had both UWL and RFI. Patients with RFI and NIS had higher odds for UWL. Women, no education and living alone were the most associated risk factors for UWL.

Conclusion: UWL was seen in almost one fifth of pulmonary fibrosis outpatients. Patients with NIS and RFI had higher odds for UWL. UWL seems feasible for initial nutritional risk screening in pulmonary fibrosis outpatient clinics, and may serve as an indication for the need for full screening and assessment.