Evolution of nutrition support in patients with COVID-19 disease admitted in the Intensive Care Unit

• Published in: Endocrinología, diabetes y nutrición. diabetes y nutrición., 2022-12, Vol.69 (10), p.802-809
• Main Authors: López-Gómez, Juan J., Lastra-González, Paula, Gómez-Hoyos, Emilia, Ortolá-Buigues, Ana, Jiménez-Sahagún, Rebeca, Cuadrado-Clemente, Laura, Benito-Sendín-Plaar, Katia, Cuenca-Becerril, Sara, Portugal-Rodríguez, Esther, De Luis Román, Daniel A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: COVID-19; Disfagia; Dysphagia; Enteral nutrition; Intensive Care Unit (ICU); Nutrición enteral; Unidad Cuidados Intensivos (UCI)
• ISSN: 2530-0180; 2530-0180
• DOI: 10.1016/j.endien.2022.11.029

Nutritional support in patients with COVID19 can influence the mean stay and complications in the patient in Intensive Care Unit (ICU). To evaluate the selection of enteral nutritional treatment in the COVID-19 patient admitted to the ICU. To know the development of dysphagia and its treatment. To evaluate the adjustment to the requirements and its relationship with the patient's complications. One-center longitudinal retrospective study in 71 patients admitted to the ICU with COVID19 infection and complete enteral nutrition between March and April 2020. Clinical variables were collected: length of stay in ICU, mean stay and rate of complications; and estimated anthropometric variables. The mean age was 61.84 (13.68) years. Among the patients analyzed, 33 (46.5%) died. The median stay in the ICU was 20 (15.75−32) days and the mean stay was 37 (26.75−63) days. The type of formula most prescribed was normoprotein 24 (35.3%) and diabetes-specific 23 (33.8%) depending on the prescribed formula. There was no difference in mean stay (p = 0.39) or death rate (p = 0.35). The percentage of achievement of the estimated protein requirements was 50 (34.38−68.76). At discharge, 8 (21%) of the patients had dysphagia. A relationship was observed between the mean ICU stay and the probability of developing dysphagia (OR: 1.035 (1.004−1.07); p = 0.02). In the patient with COVID19 disease admitted to the ICU, only half of the necessary protein requirements were reached. The presence of dysphagia at discharge was related to the length of time the patient was in the ICU. El soporte nutricional en el enfermo COVID19 ingresado en Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI) puede influir en la evolución durante la hospitalización y al alta. Evaluar la selección del tratamiento nutricional enteral en el paciente con infección COVID-19 ingresado en UCI. Conocer el desarrollo de disfagia y su tratamiento. Evaluar el ajuste a los requerimientos y su relación con las complicaciones del paciente. Estudio retrospectivo longitudinal unicéntrico en 71 pacientes ingresados en UCI con infección COVID que recibieron nutrición enteral total entre marzo y abril de 2020. Se recogieron datos de estancia en UCI, estancia media y tasa de complicaciones; variables antropométricas estimadas y diagnóstico de disfagia. La edad media fue de 61,84(13,68) años. Entre los pacientes analizados fallecieron 33(46,5%). La mediana de estancia en UCI fue de 20(15,75−32) días y la estancia media fue de 37(26,75−63) días