Introduction: Patients with chronic diseases, such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, and old age, which are associated with a high risk of malnutrition and worse outcomes, are at a higher risk for developing the severe presentation of COVID-19.
Methods: This is an observational and cross-sectional study with a sample defined by convenience. Data were collected in adult inpatient units through information obtained via telephone contact with the patient/companion, records collected by the nursing staff, and medical records, tabulating demographics, body composition, previous illnesses, nutritional diagnoses, diet acceptance, and hospitalization outcomes. The following symptoms were observed: inappetence, smell, dysgeusia, odynophagia, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Results: Most deaths occurred after transfer to the intensive care unit (79.6%). Patients with the worst outcome had lower food intake with a cutoff point of 60% for diet acceptance, which seems to be an adequate discriminator between those who survived and those who did not. Gastrointestinal symptoms were significantly associated with food consumption below 60% of the planned goal. The symptoms most associated with lower energy intake were inappetence, dysgeusia, and nausea/vomiting.
Conclusions: Reduced caloric intake and the presence of nutritional risk or its appearance during hospitalization seemed to be associated with mortality in patients with COVID-19 admitted outside the intensive care unit.