The relationship of nutritional risk and NRS2002 score with disease progression and prognosis in patients with COVID-19

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between nutritional risk and Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS2002) score with disease progression and prognosis in patients with COVID-19. Methods: The NRS2002 score of 1228 COVID-19 patients were retrospective analyzed, they were divided into with-nutritional risk group (NRS2002 score≥3) and without-nutritional risk group (NRS2002 score<3) according to the NRS2002 score at admission. To compare the differences between the two groups in clinical and outcome data and assess the relationship between the NRS2002 score and the disease progression and prognosis of COVID-19 patients. Results: Of 1228 COVID-19 patients, the nutritional risk rate was 7.90%. Compared with those in without-nutritional risk group, patients in with-nutritional risk group had significantly longer the coronavirus negative conversion time, obviously lower albumin (ALB), total protein (TP) and hemoglobin (HGB), obviously greater proportion with 3 or more comorbidities, and significantly higher rate of critical illness and mortality (P<0.01). Regression analysis showed that with nutritional risk, NRS2002 score and ALB were the risk factors for disease severity, and with nutritional risk, NRS2002 score and TP were the risk factors for prognosis. The NRS2002 score showed the best utility for predicting critical and dead COVID-19 patients. Conclusions: With nutritional risk and high NRS2002 score are closely related to disease progression and poor prognosis in COVID-19 patients. For patients with NRS2002 score >0.5, early intervention of malnutrition is needed to reduce the occurrence of critical disease. And for patients with NRS2002 score >5.5, continuous nutritional support therapy is needs to reduce mortality and improve prognosis. Clinical Trial Registry: Chinese Clinical Trial Register ChiCTR2000034563