Nutritional deterioration affected 30% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients and presented atypically, with weight loss driven by adipose tissue reduction rather than lean mass loss and without the traditional biochemical markers of malnutrition, which may limit standard assessment tools.
Key Findings
Results
Nutritional status deterioration occurred in 30% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
Deterioration was defined as weight loss of more than 3% during hospitalization.
20 out of 66 patients met this criterion.
The study was a prospective, single-center, observational study conducted between December 2020 and June 2021.
Results
Male sex was significantly associated with greater odds of nutritional status deterioration during COVID-19 hospitalization.
OR 7.94 (95% CI: 1.28–49.08) for men compared to women.
The cohort was 61% male (aged 56.7 ± 13.4 years) and 39% female (aged 58.8 ± 12.0 years).
Total sample size was 66 patients.
Results
Longer hospitalization duration was associated with increased odds of nutritional deterioration.
OR 1.30 per additional day of hospitalization (95% CI: 1.08–1.57).
This was identified as an independent predictor alongside male sex.
Results
Weight loss during COVID-19 hospitalization was primarily characterized by reduction in adipose tissue mass rather than lean tissue mass.
Lean tissue mass did not change significantly during hospitalization.
Body composition parameters were measured at both admission and discharge.
This pattern differs from classic malnutrition, which typically involves loss of lean/muscle mass.
Results
Traditional biochemical markers of malnutrition were absent in this COVID-19 cohort.
Low albumin, low prealbumin, and low cholesterol levels were not present in these patients.
Biochemical markers were measured at admission and at discharge.
The absence of these markers may limit the effectiveness of standard malnutrition assessment tools in COVID-19 patients.
Conclusions
Malnutrition in COVID-19 presents atypically, potentially limiting standard malnutrition screening tools.
Inflammation and metabolic disruption associated with COVID-19 were noted as contributors to nutritional decline.
The atypical presentation includes fat-predominant weight loss without biochemical hypoalbuminemia or hypocholesterolemia.
Authors conclude that identifying simple and accessible markers is essential for early detection and intervention.
Plewka-Barcik K, Różańska-Trzepla M, Kłos K, Krawczyk M, Chciałowski A, Niemczyk S, et al.. (2026). Beyond Biochemical Markers: Characterizing Malnutrition in COVID-19.. Nutrients. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18010075