Nutrition to reduce risk of infection in COPD:
Maintain adequate intake of nutritious foods including a minimum of a variety of 5 fruits and vegetables per day after resting. Fatigue and shortness of breath may reduce ability to eat. Consume small meals and supplemental shakes often to reduce susceptibility to infection, and as with many chronic diseases, obtain vitamin levels for vitamin D, vitamin B12, thiamine, and folic acid. Improvement in vitamin D levels may improve both respiratory and skeletal muscle strength (4).
Oxygen therapy and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD):
According to the COPD Working Group, a literature review of studies published from January 1, 2007 to September 8, 2010 on the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and safety of long-term oxygen therapy for COPD was performed. In patients with COPD who have severe hypoxemia (low levels of oxygen) in arterial blood (PaO2 ~ 50 mm Hg) and heart failure, long-term oxygen therapy (~ 15 hours/day) decreased all-cause mortality. However, at 3 and 7 years there was no beneficial effect of long-term oxygen therapy on all-cause mortality in patients with COPD who have mild-to-moderate hypoxemia (PaO(2) ~ 59-65 mm Hg). The review also suggested that long-term oxygen therapy may have a beneficial effect over time on FEV1 and PaCO2 in patients with COPD who have severe hypoxemia and heart failure. However, there is no evidence of a beneficial effect of long-term oxygen therapy on lung function or exercise factors in patients with COPD who have mild-to-moderate hypoxemia. In patients with COPD who have severe hypoxemia, long-term oxygen therapy was also found to have no effect on readmissions and there is limited data suggesting that long-term oxygen therapy increases the risk of hospitalizations. In patients with COPD who have severe hypoxemia, long-term oxygen therapy may have a beneficial effect over time on health-related quality of life but more evidence is needed. (1)
