Review Article
Nutrition Management in Patients with Cirrhosis in Present COVID-19 Pandemic
Sharma P*, Kumar A and Arora A
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, India
*Corresponding author: Sharma P, Department of Gastroenetrology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, India; E-mail: drpraveen_sharma@yahoo.com
Article Information: Submission: 22/06/2020; Accepted: 18/07/2020; Published: 23/07/2020
Copyright: © 2020 Sharma P, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
Purpose: COVID-19 pandemic has affected millions all over the world. People who are obese, elderly, with chronic kidney disease, cardio vascular disease, chronic liver disease, associated malignancy and chronic airway disease are prone to develop severe COVID-19 with increased mortality. Malnutrition is a common problem in all these co morbid illness including chronic liver disease and it is possible that malnutrition and sarcopenia add on to increased severity in these patients.
Results: Malnutrition is seen in 20-50% of patients with chronic liver disease and chronic liver disease is an independent risk factor for increased severity and mortality in patients with COVID-19 disease. Social myths about COVID-19 and intake of many herbal, Chinese and ayurvedic preparation with add on heavy metals may affect the liver function in this pandemic. Home quarantine has led to increase screen time and reduced physical activity time. This has affected many malnourished and sarcopenic patients with cirrhosis.
Conclusion: Malnutrition is common in patients with chronic liver disease and good nutrition, regular exercises and adequate supplementation with vitamins and nutrients is required in the present pandemic to improve survival.