ObjectiveTo explore the diagnostic efficacy of Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) in malnutrition of elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in outpatient department. MethodsOne hundred and five elderly outpatients with COPD were enrolled in the study, and their nutritional screening was carried out. The clinical and laboratory parameters of patients in the normal nutrition group (high GNRI group) and malnutrition group (low GNRI group) were compared, and the correlation analysis was conducted. The diagnostic efficacy of GNRI was evaluated based on the malnutrition universal screening tool (MUST). ResultsThe prevalence of malnutrition was high in COPD elderly outpatients. The prevalence of malnutrition in group D was 61.8%. There were significant differences between the two groups in body mass index, serum albumin, FEV1 percentage in the predicted value, 6-minute walk distance, and the number of acute exacerbations in the past year. GNRI was significantly related to the above parameters. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of GNRI were 81.8%, 83.6% and 82.9%, using MUST as the standard. ConclusionGNRI can be used for nutritional screening of COPD patients in elderly outpatients, which is simple, convenient and relatively accurate, and can be popularized in other medical institutions.