Prevalence of malnutrition in coronavirus disease 19: the NUTRICOV study

Recent European Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition guidelines highlighted the interest of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of malnutrition in the management of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) patients. The aim of our study was to evaluate the prevalence of malnutrition in patients hospitalised for COVID-19. In a prospective observational cohort study malnutrition was diagnosed according to the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) two-step approach. Patients were divided into two groups according to the diagnosis of malnutrition. Covariate selection for the multivariate analysis was based on P <0 center dot 2 in univariate analysis, with a logistic regression model and a backward elimination procedure. A partitioning of the population was realised. Eighty patients were prospectively enrolled. Thirty patients (37 center dot 5 %) had criteria for malnutrition. The need for intensive care unit admission (n 46, 57 center dot 5 %) was similar in the two groups. Three patients who died (3 center dot 75 %) were malnourished. Multivariate analysis exhibited that low BMI (OR 0 center dot 83, 95 % CI 0 center dot 73, 0 center dot 96, P = 0 center dot 0083), dyslipidaemia (OR 29 center dot 45, 95 % CI 3 center dot 12, 277 center dot 73, P = 0 center dot 0031), oral intake reduction <50 % (OR 3 center dot 169, 95 % CI 1 center dot 04, 9 center dot 64, P = 0 center dot 0422) and glomerular filtration rate (Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration; CKD-EPI) at admission (OR 0 center dot 979, 95 % CI 0 center dot 96, 0 center dot 998, P = 0 center dot 0297) were associated with the occurrence of malnutrition. We demonstrate the existence of a high prevalence of malnutrition in a general cohort of COVID-19 inpatients according to GLIM criteria. Nutritional support in COVID-19 care seems an essential element.

Automated summary

Recent guidelines from the European Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition emphasize the importance of addressing malnutrition in COVID-19 patients. A study evaluated the prevalence of malnutrition among hospitalized COVID-19 patients and found it to be associated with factors such as low BMI, dyslipidemia, reduced oral intake, and kidney function. Nutritional support is considered crucial in the care of COVID-19 patients with malnutrition.