Malnutrition risk as a negative prognostic factor in COVID-19 patients. (October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stefano, Mancin; Andrea, Bertone; Daniela, Cattani; Emanuela, Morenghi; Lorena, Passadori; Daniela, Donizetti; Sökeland, Fanny; Azzolini, Elena; Beatrice, Mazzoleni
• Is Part Of: Clinical nutrition ESPEN. Volume 45(2021)
• Page Start: 369
• Page End: 373
• Publication Date: 2021-10
• Subjects: Malnutrition -- SARS-CoV-2 -- Infection -- Immune system -- Obesity -- ACE2; Nutritionally induced diseases -- Periodicals; Metabolism -- Disorders -- Periodicals; 616.39005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2021.07.016
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2405-4577

Abstract

Summary: Background/objective: SARS CoV-2 infection is a disease, whose prevalence has drastically risen in the past year. The aim of this study is to examine a possible association between the risk of malnutrition, clinical outcomes following hospitalisation and morbidity at discharge. Methods: This study has analysed the medical records of 652 patients hospitalised at Humanitas Research Hospital (Milan, Italy) between 01/03 and 30/04/2020. The risk of malnutrition was identified with the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST). Results: The cohort was composed of 515 patients. The MUST scale is significantly associated to malnutrition evaluating the morbidity at discharge (discharged 0.27 ± 0.68, discharged with problems 0.40 ± 0.93, deceased 0.64 ± 0.93, p < 0.001), and the clinical outcome following hospitalisation (HR 1.25, 95% CI 1.04–1.51, p = 0.019) is maintained even after correction for age, treated hypertension, admission to an intensive care unit and oxygen therapy). A subgroup analysis addressing patients with a BMI ≥30 shows a significant association between comorbidities such as: arterial hypertension (HR 4.95, 95% CI 1.10–22.22, p = 0.037), diabetes (HR 3.37, 95% CI 1.04–10.89, p = 0.043) and renal failure (HR 3.94, 95% CI 1.36–11.36, p = 0.011). Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that the risk of malnutrition is a noteworthy indicator that impacts both the clinical outcomes and morbidity at discharge.