In this preliminary study, the bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) method has been validated in a group of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Z/H mean vector between healthy controls (C), COPD patients with low FFM (FFM/sub L/ and COPD patients with normal FFM (FFM/sub n/) was compared using the tolerance ellipses from the Italian population [3]. The later was possible since Z/H mean vector was similar between both reference populations in Italy and Spain. The BIVA method allow to discriminate the FFM/sub N/, FFM/sub L/ and C groups.