Malnutrition in hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection

Rationale: Patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19) are potentially at risk of malnutrition because of reduced food intake and catabolism-related inflammation, reduced mobility due to hospitalization, older age and comorbidities The prevalence and the causes of malnutrition as well as the provided nutrition care were evaluated in all the COVID-19 adults hospitalized in a 3rd level hospital in Italy Methods: A one-day audit was carried out recording: age, measured or estimated body weight (BW) and height, BMI (Kg/m2), 30-day weight loss (WL), comorbidities, serum albumin and C-reactive protein (CRP;nv5: 36% (higher in ICU and lower in RU,p0 05), respectively Conclusion: Malnutrition risk was present in three-fourth of patients and malnutrition in about one-third The frequency increased according to the severity of the COVID-19 clinical feature A very low dietary intake and a very high inflammatory state were present in one-third Most of the patients were on oral diet alone Protein intake was appropriate, whereas energy intake was at the lower limit of the recommended amount Disclosure of Interest: None declared