ABSTRACT
Protein-calorie malnutrition (PCM) is common in hospitalized patients (1) and is especially prevalent in patients with primary cardiac (2,3) or respiratory disease (4) and critically ill patients receiving ventilatory support (5). The presence of PCM presents a therapeutic challenge as operative morbidity and mortality are significantly increased in this patient population (6,7). This is a heterogeneous popUlation of patients, with malnutrition occurring as a consequence of their cardiac or respiratory pathology and independent PCM seen in patients with coincidental cardiac or respiratory disease. Since cardiac and respiratory function affect distant cellular metabolism and organ physiology, failure of these two critical organ systems significantly interferes with nutrient absorption, circulation, utilization, and metabolism throughout the body. This chapter reviews the adverse effects of malnutrition on cardiac and pulmonary function and analyzes the impact of nutrition support on clinical outcome in patients with cardiac and respiratory disease.
