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. 2022 Nov;46(8):1797-1807.
doi: 10.1002/jpen.2418. Epub 2022 Jun 21.

Impact of malnutrition on clinical outcomes in patients diagnosed with COVID-19

Jana Ponce  1   2 , Alfred Jerrod Anzalone  3   4 , Kristina Bailey  5   6 , Harlan Sayles  7 , Megan Timmerman  1   2 , Mariah Jackson  1 , James McClay  8 , Corrine Hanson  1 ; National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C) Consortium
Affiliations

Impact of malnutrition on clinical outcomes in patients diagnosed with COVID-19

Jana Ponce et al. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2022 Nov.

Abstract

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is now the third leading cause of death in the United States. Malnutrition in hospitalized patients increases risk of complications. However, the effect of malnutrition on outcomes in patients infected is unclear. This study aims to identify the impact of malnutrition on mortality and adverse hospital events in patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

Methods: This study used data from the National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C), a COVID-19 repository containing harmonized, longitudinal electronic health record data from US health systems. Malnutrition was categorized into three groups based on condition diagnosis: (1) none documented, (2) history of malnutrition, and (3) hospital-acquired malnutrition. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine whether malnutrition was associated with mortality and adverse events, including mechanical ventilation, acute respiratory distress syndrome, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and hospital-acquired pressure injury, in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

Results: Of 343,188 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, 11,206 had a history of malnutrition and 15,711 had hospital-acquired malnutrition. After adjustment for potential confounders, odds of mortality were significantly higher in patients with a history of malnutrition (odds ratio [OR], 1.71; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.63-1.79; P < 0.001) and hospital-acquired malnutrition (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 2.4-2.6; P < 0.001). Adjusted odds of adverse hospital events were also significantly elevated in both malnutrition groups.

Conclusions: Results indicate the risk of mortality and adverse inpatient events in adults with COVID-19 is significantly higher in patients with malnutrition. Prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of malnutrition could be a key component in improving outcomes in these patients.

Keywords: adult; malnutrition; nutrition assessment; nutrition support practice; outcomes research/quality; pulmonary disease.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author declares no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Data analysis plan. COVID‐19, coronavirus disease 2019; N3C, National COVID Cohort Collaborative; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; SARS‐CoV‐2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Figure 2
Figure 2
Geographic distribution of the cohort
Figure 3
Figure 3
Forest plots showing the crude and adjusted odds ratios for inpatient mortality or transfer to hospice by malnutrition status. (A) Crude odds ratios of adverse event by malnutrition status of individuals infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2). (B) Adjusted odds ratios of adverse event by malnutrition status of individuals infected with SARS‐CoV‐2. CI, confidence interval; HAC, xxx; Hx, history; ref, reference
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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