Undernutrition risk is independently associated with worsened indicators of hospital rehabilitation in COVID-19 patients.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to analyze the association between the risk of undernutrition and indicators of hospital rehabilitation in patients with COVID-19 while controlling for confounding variables.

METHODS: This was an analytical study conducted by analyzing the medical records of patients with COVID-19. A total of 562 adult patients were eligible for the study. In addition to the risk of undernutrition (independent variable), indicators of hospital rehabilitation (dependent variables) were evaluated. These indicators included the length of hospital stay, clinical outcome (discharge or death), food intake, mobility (bedridden status), the use of mechanical ventilation, and the need for enteral nutrition. Pre-existing comorbidities (confounding/control variables) were grouped into cardiovascular, metabolic/endocrine, neurological, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and other categories (neoplasms, multiple sclerosis, and kidney disease). A dichotomization model was applied for data analysis. The Chi-Square test was used to verify the association between the risk of undernutrition and the dependent variables. Associations with a significance level of P  < 0.05 were subjected to Poisson regression to identify the prevalence ratio.

RESULTS: Patients at risk of undernutrition had a 90% higher chance of being bedridden and were 35 times more likely to experience a decrease in food intake. They also had an 89% higher chance of using invasive mechanical ventilation and a 91% higher chance of requiring enteral nutrition. Additionally, individuals at risk of undernutrition had a 73% higher chance of death. Adjustment for comorbidities did not alter these associations, demonstrating that the risk of undernutrition is independently associated with indicators of hospital rehabilitation.

CONCLUSION: The risk of undernutrition is independently associated with worsened indicators of hospital rehabilitation in patients with COVID-19, including higher prevalence of mortality.