Sarcopenia and risk of malnutrition as risk factors for complications from COVID-19

Purpose: This study aimed to associate nutritional and sarcopenia risk with clinical outcomes in elderly patients with COVID-19. Methods: This is a longitudinal retrospective cohort study. Hospitalized elderly individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 were included in the study. Nutritional risk was assessed using the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST), and Sarcopenia risk was assessed using the SARC-F. Associations were assessed through multivariable logistic models. Results: In total, 127 patients (mean age: 71.25 ±8.06 years) were followed up until the clinical outcome. Sarcopenia risk was diagnosed in 63.8% of the sample, whereas nutritional risk was observed in 72%. Hospitalization in the intensive care unit (ICU) was required in 48.8% of the sample, 38.6% required mechanical ventilation, and 32.3% died. Elderly individuals with sarcopenia risk were more likely to be hospitalized in ICUs (OR: 5.62; 95%CI: 2.2-14.3), require mechanical ventilation (OR: 4.0; 95% CI: 1.5-10.2), and die (OR: 5.06; 95% CI: 1.7-14.2). The risk of malnutrition assessed through MUST was an important risk factor for death (OR = 30.15; 95% CI: 3.6-245.8; p<0.01). Conclusion: Sarcopenia risk was a risk factor for death, hospitalization in ICU, and mechanical ventilation, while nutritional risk was a risk factor for death.