COVID pandemic and clinical nutrition response in Spain: results of a national survey

Introduction: the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has forced major organizational and care changes in the health system. However, in Spain, the circumstances suffered by the health professionals who have cared for pandemic patients from a clinical nutrition standpoint has remained unknown up to this moment. Objectives: the management and care changes made in clinical nutrition units in Spain, and their impact on clinical practice are described. Material and methods: a cross-sectional study was carried out using a survey directed at SENPE members (June 2020). Responses sent by health professionals in the field of clinical nutrition who had treated patients with COVID-19 in Spanish hospitals were included in the study. Resultados: a total of 116 survey forms were analyzed, mostly filled out by doctors (57.8 %) working at hospitals with more than 500 beds (56 %); 46 % of survey respondents were on telework. There was a nutritional care plan in 68 % of cases, such plan being present mainly in hospitals with more than 500 beds (p < 0.001). In these hospitals more specific diets for COVID-19 were implemented than in those under 500 beds: 18 (35.3 %) vs 44 (67.7 %), (p < 0.001). The use of recommendations issued by scientific societies was reported in 86 % of cases. Never or almost never could a satisfactory nutritional assessment be performed for 38.8 %. The prescription of nutritional supplements was not less than 50 %. Health workers rated their performance as satisfactory or very satisfactory (51.7 %), and this was not related to hospital size but to having implemented a COVID-19 diet (p < 0.05). Conclusions: clinical nutrition in Spain has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic with organizational and managerial changes and, although care has been clearly affected, some quality standards were ultimately maintained. Larger hospitals have had some advantages in making these adjustments.