New guidance to combat malnutrition in patients with COPD
Updated guidance, endorsed by PCRS, to help healthcare professionals identify and manage people with COPD at risk of malnutrition, has been produced by a multi professional panel.
The second issue of ‘Managing Malnutrition in COPD’ includes new guidance from NICE (NG115 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in over 16s: diagnosis and management) and the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) strategy and revised guidance on energy and protein requirements for patients with COPD.
It also contains advice on offering nutritional intervention alongside pulmonary rehabilitation programmes which are associated with improved patient outcomes.
The guidance is accompanied by three complementary colour-coded patient leaflets all of which contain advice on diet and physical activity and tips on coping with common symptoms including dry mouth, taste changes and shortness of breath. In addition the red (high risk) leaflet includes advice for patients on incorporating oral nutritional supplements into their diet.
One in five outpatients with COPD are at risk of malnutrition and the aim of the document is to raise awareness amongst the multi-disciplinary team of incorporating nutrition screening and nutritional care into management pathways for patients with COPD.
PCRS member Sally King, Respiratory Specialist Physiotherapist, and member of the ‘Managing Malnutrition in COPD’ panel, says: “It is important that we work closely with our dietetic colleagues and the multi-professional team to identify and treat malnutrition to ensure a better quality of life for patients.
“Pulmonary rehabilitation plays a key role in the management of individuals with COPD and research suggests that if we can incorporate nutrition intervention alongside exercise programmes we get improved patient outcomes.”
The ‘Managing Malnutrition in COPD’ materials have been produced with the help of an unrestricted educational grant from Nutricia Advanced Medical Nutrition.