Open AccessInadequate energy and protein intake, underweight and malnutrition are associated with in‐hospital mortality among COVID ‐19 rehabilitation patients during the omicron outbreak in Hong Kong
Author(s) -
Ting Terry Ho Yan,
Lo Tiffany Hoi Man,
Lo Winnie Wing Tung,
Ding Qi,
Yuk Daniel Ka Lok,
Hui Elsie,
Tang Maria Wing Sze
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
aging medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2475-0360
DOI - 10.1002/agm2.12220
Subject(s) - malnutrition , underweight , medicine , body mass index , outbreak , rehabilitation , odds ratio , protein–energy malnutrition , pediatrics , overweight , physical therapy , virology
Objective Malnourished COVID‐19 patients were prone to higher mortality and longer length of stay (LOS). This study aims to investigate the malnutrition risk prevalence in the COVID‐19 patients and how other nutritional indicators are related to the clinical outcomes in a rehabilitation hospital. Methods A retrospective cross‐sectional study involved 174 COVID‐19 patients during the rehabilitation phase. Malnutrition risk, nutritional indicators, mortality, and LOS were compared among different risk groups. Albumin, nutrition intake, and body mass index (BMI) were investigated for their effects on the clinical outcomes. Results The prevalence of malnutrition risk was 94.9%; those older were higher in malnutrition risk. BMI, energy and protein intakes decreased as the malnutrition risk increased. Albumin, energy and protein intakes were lower in the death group. The high malnutrition risk group and severely underweight patients had 2.7 times and 2.2 times higher in‐hospital death, respectively. For subjects ≥75 years old, the odds ratio to death was 6.2 compared to those <75 years old. Conclusion We observed a high malnutrition risk of 94.9% in COVID‐19 patients. Patients with malnutrition risk had a lower BMI, lower nutritional intake, and a higher chance of in‐hospital death. These results reinforced the importance of nutrition management in COVID‐19 patients.