Evaluation of the nutritional status in patients with COVID-19

COVID-19 has been a global health threat. We aimed to investigate the nutrition status of COVID-19 patients and evaluate the prognostic value of the controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score in these patients. 348 severe patients with COVID-19 were collected. Based on the CONUT score, 161 (46.3%) patients had mild malnutrition while 139 (39.9%) patients had moderate-severe malnutrition. Compared to the patients in normal and mild groups, the patients in moderate-severe group were older, more male, had higher counts of white blood cell and neutrophil as well as higher serum levels of C-reactive protein. Nearly half of patients (44.6%) in moderate-severe group developed acute cardiac injury, while 6.3% and 15.5% patients in normal and mild group, respectively. Patients with moderate-severe malnutrition exhibited a higher mortality than those patients with normal and mild malnutrition. Multivariate regression analysis showed the CONUT score was the independent predictor of death in patients with COVID-19 (odds ratio: 1.410; 95%CI: 1.089-1.825; p = 0.009). Malnutrition is significantly associated with poor outcome of COVID-19, while the prognosis of patients with normal nutrition status is relative favorable. The CONUT score independently predicts the prognosis of COVID-19 patients, which can help physicians to clarify patients with poor prognosis.