Effect of enteral nutrition on nutritional status and immune function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease complicated with respiratory failure by non-invasive ventilation

  Objective  To study the effect of enteral nutrition for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) complicated with respiratory failure by non-invasive ventilation.

  Methods  Sixty patients with COPD complicated with respiratory failure were were divided into conventional group (nasal feeding) and study group (enteral nutrition support), with 30 cases per group. Clinical effect was observed after 1 month of intervention.

  Results  The complication rate of the study group was lower, the time of clinical symptom disappearance, recovery time of respiratory function, and average hospital days were shorter than that of the conventional group(P < 0.05). The interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in the study group was lower, serum iron level, respiratory flow peak (PEF), and ratio of forced vital capacity in the first second to a predicted value(FEV₁%) were higher than that in the conventional group(P < 0.05). After intervention, the study group had lower respiratory function score and respiratory rate than before intervention and routine group(P < 0.05).

  Conclusion  Enteral nutrition is effective in the treatment of COPD patients complicated with respiratory failure in non-invasive ventilation.