Nutrition improves COVID-19 clinical progress

Abstract

Nutrition is a basic need and is crucial for the persistence of good health. This awareness has increased since December 2019 during the pandemic that the world is still facing. The importance of nutrition in infectious diseases was emphasized but the relationship between the severity of symptoms and nutrition status of individuals was not examined. This study compared the nutrition status of patients with COVID-19 admitted to the emergency service and the clinical severity of the disease. Based on the nutrition status of the 337 patients included in the study, 87.2% (294) of the patients were in the low-risk group while 12.8% (43) were in the high-risk group in terms of malnutrition. In the analysis conducted to examine the effect of nutrition on the severity of disease, the relationship between NRS 2002 and dyspnea, cough, weakness, fever, and other symptoms was statistically significant. It was concluded that healthy nutrition is crucial during the pandemic, and it is necessary to consider nutrition improvement as a way to cope with emerging viral infections.

Evaluation of Nutritional Status of Intensive Care Unit COVID-19 Patients Based on the Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 Score

“…Age is a factor that is directly associated with the risk of mortality due to COVID-19 [ 15 – 18 ]. Malnutrition is highly prevalent in elderly patients and may partially account for this elevated mortality risk given its links with severe disease [ 6 , 19 , 20 ]. In the present study on critically ill COVID-19 patients, those who died had a greater mean age than those who recovered.…”

“…Interestingly, we found that those with a higher age also had a higher risk of malnutrition, as reported by Alikiaii et al [ 21 ]. This is significant because the interaction between malnutrition and COVID-19 risk and severity seems to be bidirectional, with each able to affect the other [ 20 , 22 ]. One study reviewed 4,187 hospitalized COVID-19 patients and revealed ten-fold higher odds of mortality among those who were malnourished relative to well-nourished individuals [ 19 ].…”

Intention to quit and its correlates among dieticians residing in the United Arab Emirates during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional survey

“…A recent systematic review and meta-analysis revealed that three out of ten adults in the UAE suffer from hypertension [ 14 ]. Given that obesity and these associated diseases are known risk factors for severe COVID-19 outcomes and associated mortality [ 15 ], the role of dieticians is critical in tailoring nutritional guidance and support to patients, helping them make informed choices to improve their overall health and strengthen their immune systems [ 16 ].…”