Prognostic role of nutritional status in elderly patients hospitalized for COVID-19: a monocentric study

Aging Clin Exp Res. 2020 Dec;32(12):2695-2701. doi: 10.1007/s40520-020-01727-5. Epub 2020 Oct 8.

Abstract

Background: Symptomatic severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection incidence is higher in the elderly patients. Pre-existing geriatric conditions such as comorbidity and frailty seem related to worse hospital outcomes.

Aims: To assess the role of nutritional status as an independent prognostic factor for in-hospital death in elderly patients.

Methods: Consecutive elderly patients (age > 65 years) hospitalized for novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were enrolled. Demographics, laboratory and comorbidity data were collected. Nutritional status was evaluated using the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI). Uni- and multivariate Cox regression analyses to evaluate predictors for in-hospital death were performed.

Results: One hundred and nine hospitalized elderly patients (54 male) were consecutively enrolled. At univariate analysis, age (HR 1.045 [CI 1.008-1.082]), cognitive impairment (HR 1.949 [CI 1.045-3.364]), C-reactive protein (HR 1.004 [CI 1.011-1.078]), lactate dehydrogenases (HR 1.003 [CI 1.001-1.004]) and GNRI moderate-severe risk category (HR 8.571 [CI 1.096-67.031]) were risk factors for in-hospital death, while albumin (HR 0.809 [CI 0.822-0.964]), PaO2/FiO2 ratio (HR 0.996 [CI 0.993-0.999]) and body mass index (HR 0.875 [CI 0.782-0.979]) were protective factors. Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed a significative higher survival in patients without GNRI moderate or severe risk category (p = 0.0013). At multivariate analysis, PaO2/FiO2 ratio (HR 0.993 [CI 0.987-0.999], p = 0.046) and GNRI moderate-severe risk category (HR 9.285 [1.183-72.879], p = 0.034) were independently associated with in-hospital death.

Conclusion: Nutritional status assessed by GNRI is a significative predictor of survival in elderly patients hospitalized for COVID-19. The association between GNRI and PaO2/FiO2 ratio is a good prognostic model these patients.

Keywords: COVID-19; Elderly; Geriatric nutritional risk index; Nutrition.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Betacoronavirus
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections*
  • Female
  • Geriatric Assessment
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Malnutrition / diagnosis
  • Malnutrition / epidemiology
  • Nutrition Assessment
  • Nutritional Status
  • Pandemics*
  • Pneumonia, Viral*
  • Prognosis
  • Risk Factors
  • SARS-CoV-2