Beyond transmission: Dire need for integration of nutrition interventions in COVID-19 pandemic-response strategies in Developing Countries like Pakistan

Synergistic associations between infection and nutrition are well known. Impact of nutrition interventions on the outcomes have been scientifically assessed and reported. The role of nutrition in limiting the infection related morbidity and mortality does not appear to be a debatable question but nutrition interventions do not appear to be an essential part of current COVID-19 management strategies. Given the nature of pandemic and lack of organism-specific evidence, variability in nutrition interventions and lack of nutrition interventions is not unexpected. However, delay in realization of the crucial need of nutrition interventions to limit the immediate and long term outcomes at personal and community level may aggravate health related issues that can have long term impact on quality of life and economy. Due to existing undernutrition and lack of nutrition related awareness and competence, need for timely and appropriate interventions is much more critical for developing countries. This manuscript highlights the need and feasibility of various nutrition interventions to assure optimum quality of life during and after COVID-19 pandemic. Available evidence provides enough guidance for nutrition interventions that are safe and promise to accrue various degrees of benefits with almost no likelihood of harm. Nutrition interventions suggested by author are: 1) population level efforts for promoting better use of existing resources; 2) quicker augmentation of nutrition status of high risk people and non-hospitalized cases by use of supplement and individualized guidance and 3) nutritional support of sever case by timely and adequate enteral and parenteral feeding. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.COVID19-S4.2784 How to cite this:Hakeem R, Sheikh MA. Beyond transmission: Dire need for integration of nutrition interventions in COVID-19 pandemic-response strategies in Developing Countries like Pakistan. Pak J Med Sci. 2020;36(COVID19-S4):---------. doi: https://doi.org/ 10.12669/pjms.36.COVID19-S4.2784 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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Impact of Early Incorporation of Nutrition Interventions as a Component of Cancer Therapy in Adults: A Review

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu12113403 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (11) ◽

pp. 3403

Author(s):

Julie Richards ◽

Mary Beth Arensberg ◽

Sara Thomas ◽

Kirk W. Kerr ◽

Refaat Hegazi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Hospital Readmissions ◽

Nutrition Intervention ◽

Nutrition Status ◽

Future Research ◽

Nutrition Interventions ◽

Oncology Patients ◽

Oral Nutrition ◽

Early Nutrition

Malnutrition is prevalent among oncology patients and can adversely affect clinical outcomes, prognosis, quality of life, and survival. This review evaluates current trends in the literature and reported evidence around the timing and impact of specific nutrition interventions in oncology patients undergoing active cancer treatment. Previous research studies (published 1 January 2010–1 April 2020) were identified and selected using predefined search strategy and selection criteria. In total, 15 articles met inclusion criteria and 12/15 articles provided an early nutrition intervention. Identified studies examined the impacts of nutrition interventions (nutrition counseling, oral nutrition supplements, or combination of both) on a variety of cancer diagnoses. Nutrition interventions were found to improve body weight and body mass index, nutrition status, protein and energy intake, quality of life, and response to cancer treatments. However, the impacts of nutrition interventions on body composition, functional status, complications, unplanned hospital readmissions, and mortality and survival were inconclusive, mainly due to the limited number of studies evaluating these outcomes. Early nutrition interventions were found to improve health and nutrition outcomes in oncology patients. Future research is needed to further evaluate the impacts of early nutrition interventions on patients’ outcomes and explore the optimal duration and timing of nutrition interventions.

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Long-term quality of life and nutrition status of the aboral pouch reconstruction after total gastrectomy for gastric cancer: a prospective multicenter observational study (CCOG1505)

Gastric Cancer ◽

10.1007/s10120-018-0893-z ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 22 (3) ◽

pp. 607-616 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Chie Tanaka ◽

Mitsuro Kanda ◽

Kenta Murotani ◽

Takaki Yoshikawa ◽

Haruhiko Cho ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Gastric Cancer ◽

Observational Study ◽

Total Gastrectomy ◽

Nutrition Status ◽

Multicenter Observational Study ◽

Pouch Reconstruction ◽

Prospective Multicenter Observational Study

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A qualitative synthesis of diabetes self-management strategies for long term medical outcomes and quality of life in the UK

BMC Health Services Research ◽

10.1186/1472-6963-14-348 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Julia Frost ◽

Ruth Garside ◽

Chris Cooper ◽

Nicky Britten

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Self Management ◽

Qualitative Synthesis ◽

Medical Outcomes ◽

The Uk

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Dietary and behavioral adjustments to control bowel function by long-term colorectal cancer survivors.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2014.32.3_suppl.573 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 32 (3_suppl) ◽

pp. 573-573 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Virginia Sun ◽

Marcia Grant ◽

Christopher S. Wendel ◽

Carmit K. McMullen ◽

Joanna E. Bulkley ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Colorectal Cancer ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Bowel Function ◽

Bowel Dysfunction ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related ◽

Permanent Ostomy

573 Background: Bowel dysfunction is a known complication of colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment, and has a detrimental impact on survivors’ health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The prevalence of dietary and behavioral modifications in CRC survivors has been described in only a small number of studies. To better understand dietary and behavioral adjustments that long-term (≥ 5 years) CRC survivors make to regulate their bowel function, we performed a mixed methods analysis, comparing survivors with a permanent ostomy and those with anastomosis. Methods: CRC survivors with or without permanent ostomies were surveyed with the modified version of the City of Hope Quality of Life for Ostomy tool (N=919).Dietary adjustments were compared by ostomy status (ostomy versus anastomosis) and higher quartile versus lower quartile HRQOL scores.Student’s t-tests were used to compare HRQOL measures between groups. Qualitative data from 13 focus groups (N=63) and interviews with 30 female ostomates were analyzed to explore specific strategies used for regulating bowel function. Results: CRC survivors make substantial andpermanent dietary adjustments following treatment. The majority of survivors reported that they took more than one month to feel comfortable with their diet, and many (10% to 18%) never became comfortable. No significant dietary adjustment differences were noted based on ostomy status. Survivors who took less time (<1 month) to feel comfortable with their diet and for their appetite to return had better HRQOL (p < 0.001) ≥ 5 years later. Adjustments to control bowel function consisted of four overall strategies: dietary adjustments, behavioral adjustments, exercise, and medications. Conclusions: CRC survivors use a multitude of adaptive strategies to control their bowel function. Many survivors struggle with unpredictable bowel function continually for the rest of their lives, and many never find any set of management strategies to achieve regularity. Understanding the myriad of adjustments made by CRC survivors will lead to evidence-based recommendations to foster positive adjustments after cancer treatment.

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Thinking Beyond Language: Intervention for Severe Aphasia

Perspectives on Neurophysiology and Neurogenic Speech and Language Disorders ◽

10.1044/nnsld19.1.15 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 15-22 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Nina Simmons-Mackie

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Communication Training ◽

Language Intervention ◽

Specific Training ◽

Environmental Support ◽

Total Communication ◽

Communication Partners

Abstract Purpose: This article addresses several intervention approaches that aim to improve life for individuals with severe aphasia. Because severe aphasia significantly compromises language, often for the long term, recommended approaches focus on additional domains that affect quality of life. Treatments are discussed that involve increasing participation in personally relevant life situations, enhancing environmental support for communication and participation, and improving communicative confidence. Methods: Interventions that have been suggested in the aphasia literature as particularly appropriate for people with severe aphasia include training in total communication, training of communication partners, and activity specific training. Conclusion: Several intervention approaches can be implemented to enhance life with severe aphasia.

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