Nutritional problems of patients with COVID‐19 receiving dietetic treatment in primary care

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Nutritional problems of patients with COVID‐19 receiving dietetic treatment in primary care via Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics Abstract Background The nutritional problems of patients who are hospitalised for COVID-19 are becoming increasingly clear. However, a large group of patients have never been hospitalised and also seem to experience persistent nutritional problems. The present study describes the nutritional status, risk of sarcopenia and nutrition-related complaints of patients recovering from COVID-19 receiving dietetic treatment in primary care. Methods In this retrospective observational study, data were collected during dietetic treatment by a primary care dietitian between April and December 2020. Both patients who had and had not been admitted to the hospital were included at their first visit to a primary care dietitian. Data on nutritional status, risk of sarcopenia and nutrition-related complaints were collected longitudinally. Results Data from 246 patients with COVID-19 were collected. Mean age was 57 ± 16 years and 61% of the patient population was female. At first consultation, two thirds of patients were classified as overweight or obese (BMI >25 kg/m2). The majority had experienced unintentional weight loss due to COVID-19. Additionally, 55% of hospitalised and 34% of non-hospitalised patients had a high risk of sarcopenia. Most commonly reported nutrition-related complaints were: decreased appetite, shortness of breath, changed or loss of taste, and feeling of being full. Nutrition-related complaints decreased after the first consultation, but remained present over time. Conclusions In conclusion, weight changes, risk of sarcopenia and nutrition-related complaints were prevalent in patients with COVID-19, treated by a primary care dietitian. Nutrition-related complaints improved over time, but remained prevalent until several months after infection. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. View on Web

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