Nutritional evaluation and management in patients with Covid-19 following hospitalization in intensive care units

Rationale: Among hospitalized patients with COVID 19 pneumonia, up to 32% may require admission in intensive care units (ICU) The aim of this prospective cohort study is to assess nutritional parameters in patients with COVID 19 following ICU Methods: All patients with COVID 19 requiring ICU stay (minimum 14 days) with mechanical ventilation were included after ICU discharge Recorded parameters at the time of post-ICU rehabilitation unit (PIRU) admission included demographics, body mass index (BMI), weight loss (%), Hand Grip Test (kg), nutrition therapy modalities, and albumin dosage (gr/l) Quantitative parameters were expressed in median and range Results: Until May 5th2020, 11 patients were included (age 58(33-75) years old, and 5 men (45%)) BMI at ICU admission was 25 7 (22 2-33 3) kg/m2 Duration regarding ICU stay and ventilation were respectively 29 (25-39) and 22 (13-28) days Three patients (27%) required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and tracheostomy was performed in 5 (45%) During ICU stay, enteral nutrition was administered to all patients through a naso-gastric tube;a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy was placed in the ICU in two patients One patient required complementary parenteral nutrition At the time of admission in the PIRU, BMI was 22 9 (19 1-32 9) kg/m2 and nutrition dosage was calculated at a median of 2553kcal/day (≥28 kcal/kg/day) and 128 gr protein/day (≥1 3 gr/kg/day) Weight loss since ICU admission was estimated at 8 3% (4 3%\u003e14%) Post-extubation dysphagia requiring texture adaptation was present in 5 patients (45%) Albumin levels were 30 (26-36) gr/L Hand-grip was 12 (8-26) kg and 0 (0-20) kg for respectively men and women, reflecting significant sarcopenia Conclusion: Critical illpatients with COVID 19 pneumonia are malnourished and have severe sarcopenia following ICU stay despite adequate nutrition management Optimal nutrition therapy remains crucial during the rehabilitation period Disclosure of Interest: None declared