Frequency and factors associated with sarcopenia prediction in adult and elderly patients hospitalized for COVID-19

Patients with COVID-19 may develop symptoms that interfere with food intake. Systemic inflammatory response associated with physical inactivity and/or immobilization during hospital stay can induce weight and muscle loss leading to sarcopenia and worsening the clinical condition of these patients. The present study identifies the frequency and factors associated with sarcopenia prediction in adult and elderly patients hospitalized for COVID-19. It is a cohort-nested cross-sectional study on adult and elderly patients admitted to wards and intensive care units (ICUs) of 8 hospitals in a northeastern Brazilian state. The study was conducted from June 2020 to June 2021. Sociodemographic, economic, lifestyle, and current and past clinical history variables were collected. Sarcopenia prediction was determined by the Strength, Assistance in walking, Rise from a chair, Climb stairs, and Falls (SARC-F) questionnaire compiled in the Remote-Malnutrition APP (R-MAPP). Patients were diagnosed with sarcopenia when the final score ≥ 4 points. The study included 214 patients with a mean age of 61.76 ± 16.91 years, of which 52.3 % were female and 57.5 % elderly. Sarcopenia prevailed in 40.7 % of the sample. Univariate analysis showed greater probability of sarcopenia in elderly individuals, nonpractitioners of physical activities, hypertensive patients, diabetic patients, and those hospitalized in the ICU. In the multivariate model, the type of hospital admission remained associated with sarcopenia prediction, where patients admitted to the ICU were 1.43 (95 % CI: 1.04; 1.97) more likely to have sarcopenia than those undergoing clinical treatment. Sarcopenia prediction was not associated with patient outcome (discharge, transfer, or death) (p = 0.332). The study highlighted an important percentage of sarcopenia prediction in patients with COVID-19, especially those admitted to the ICU. Additional investigations should be carried out to better understand and develop early diagnostic strategies to assist in the management of sarcopenic patients with COVID-19.