Nutritional Status as an Index of Morbidity in Chronic Airflow Limitation

Effect of nutritional status on clinical outcome in a population of geriatric rehabilitation patients

“…All our subjects with protein or protein-energy malnutrition experienced ACE. This result suggests a direct relationship between malnutrition and the risk of complications, as already stated in other studies (6)(7)(8)(9)25). These studies also suggest that the detrimental impact of malnutrition on patient recovery is independent of the effect of non-nutritional factors.…”

The Effect of Growth Hormone on Weight Gain and Pulmonary Function in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease

“…1 ·3.4. [6][7][8][9] Furthermore, the severity of the weight deficit correlates with the severity of COPD 1 · 5 • 10 and significant respiratory muscle weakness. 1 • 4 • 5 • 10 • 11 -14 Results of studies of the effects of nutritional repletion on respiratory muscle function in COPD vary, with some showing improvement in muscle strength during either inpatient or outpatient dietary supplementation 4 • 11 • 13 • 15 • 16 while others do not.…”

Nutritional Issues in Pulmonary Rehabilitation

“…In patients with COPD, malnutrition contributes to respiratory muscle weakness [7][8][9] and is associated with an increased frequency of hospitalizations, cor pulmonale, heart failure, and increased mortality. 4,6,10,11 It is therefore important to identify patients with COPD who lose weight and who might benefit from nutritional intervention. It has not been demonstrated, however, that weight gain decreases morbidity and mortality.…”