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Nutritional Status and Frailty during and after COVID-19

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Clinical Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 January 2024) | Viewed by 6642

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
1. School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina 58, 00132 Milan, Italy
2. Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Via Olgettina 60, 00132 Milan, Italy
Interests: immune-mediated diseases; metabolic diseases; sarcopenia; obesity-associated sarcopenia; aging

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

COVID-19 might affect the nutritional status and physical performance of both patients and survivors. Several factors including reduced appetite, alterations to smell and taste, prolonged bed rest, and the catabolic effects of systemic inflammation may result in malnutrition. Indeed, initial weight loss followed by a worsening of body composition after recovery has been reported in COVID-19 patients, enhancing their vulnerability to developing skeletal muscle loss, not only in old, comorbid individuals, but also in previously robust ones. At the same time, altered muscle quality may lead to poor short- and long-term outcomes following COVID-19, predicting persistent mobility problems even months after recovery. Therefore, an aberrant nutritional status, which likely has a causative link to the risk of frailty and reduced physical performance, might be a major contributor to post-COVID-19 sequelae, hampering the patient’s ability to completely recover from the disease. Evidence on the nutritional status of COVID-19 patients and survivors, together with the characteristics, prevalence, and effects of its alterations, is still poor. Additionally, the clinical and etiological phenotypes of frailty in these patients are still unclear. This Special Issue aims to fill these gaps with the belief that a thorough understanding of a problem is half the solution.

Dr. Rebecca De Lorenzo
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • COVID-19
  • frailty
  • sarcopenia
  • nutrition
  • malnutrition
  • physical performance

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 575 KiB  
Article
More Adult Women than Men at High Cardiometabolic Risk Reported Worse Lifestyles and Self-Reported Health Status in the COVID-19 Lockdown
by Alejandro Oncina-Cánovas, Laura Compañ-Gabucio, Jesús Vioque, Miguel Ruiz-Canela, Dolores Corella, Jordi Salas-Salvadó, Montserrat Fitó, Alfredo Martínez, Ángel M. Alonso-Gómez, Julia Wärnberg, Dora Romaguera, José López-Miranda, Ramón Estruch, Francisco J. Tinahones, José Lapetra, Jacqueline Álvarez-Pérez, Aurora Bueno-Cavanillas, Josep A. Tur, Vicente Martín-Sánchez, Virginia Esteve-Luque, Miguel Delgado-Rodríguez, María Ortiz-Ramos, Josep Vidal, Clotilde Vázquez, Lidia Daimiel, Emilio Ros, Cristina Razquin, Indira Paz-Graniel, Jose V. Sorlí, Olga Castañer, Antonio García-Rios, Laura Torres-Collado, Olga Fernández-Barceló, María Angeles Zulet, Elena Rayó-Gago, Rosa Casas, Naomi Cano-Ibáñez, Lucas Tojal-Sierra, Víctor J. Simón-Frapolli, Silvia Carlos, Sangeetha Shyam, Rebeca Fernández-Carrión, Albert Goday, Jose David Torres-Peña, Sandra González-Palacios, Sonia Eguaras, Nancy Babio, María Dolores Zomeño and Manuela García-de-la-Heraadd Show full author list remove Hide full author list
Nutrients 2024, 16(13), 2000; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16132000 - 24 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1408
Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 lockdown represented an immense impact on human health, which was characterized by lifestyle and dietary changes, social distancing and isolation at home. Some evidence suggests that these consequences mainly affected women and altered relevant ongoing clinical trials. The aim of [...] Read more.
Background: The COVID-19 lockdown represented an immense impact on human health, which was characterized by lifestyle and dietary changes, social distancing and isolation at home. Some evidence suggests that these consequences mainly affected women and altered relevant ongoing clinical trials. The aim of this study was to evaluate the status and changes in diet, physical activity (PA), sleep and self-reported health status (SRH) as perceived by older adult men and women with metabolic syndrome during the COVID-19 lockdown. Methods: We analyzed data from 4681 Spanish adults with metabolic syndrome. We carried out a telephone survey during May and June 2020 to collect information on demographics, dietary habits, PA, sleep, SRH and anthropometric data. Results: The mean age of participants was 64.9 years at recruitment, and 52% of participants were men. Most participants (64.1%) perceived a decrease in their PA during confinement. Regarding gender-specific differences, a higher proportion of women than men perceived a decrease in their PA (67.5% vs. 61.1%), Mediterranean diet adherence (20.9% vs. 16.8%), sleep hours (30.3% vs. 19.1%), sleep quality (31.6% vs. 18.2%) and SRH (25.9% vs. 11.9%) (all p < 0.001). Conclusions: The COVID-19 lockdown affected women more negatively, particularly their self-reported diet, PA, sleep and health status. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutritional Status and Frailty during and after COVID-19)
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19 pages, 836 KiB  
Article
Preventive Intake of a Multiple Micronutrient Supplement during Mild, Acute SARS-CoV-2 Infection to Reduce the Post-Acute COVID-19 Condition: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Clinical Trial
by Teresa Maria Tomasa-Irriguible, Ramon Monfà, Cristina Miranda-Jiménez, Rosa Morros, Neus Robert, Luisa Bordejé-Laguna, Sandra Vidal, Pere Torán-Monserrat and Ana Maria Barriocanal
Nutrients 2024, 16(11), 1631; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16111631 - 26 May 2024
Viewed by 1399
Abstract
Patients hospitalized with COVID-19 have low levels of vitamins and trace elements. This could lead to a post-acute COVID-19 condition (PCC) that can worsen a patient’s quality of life. We aimed to study the baseline micronutrient status of patients and assess whether a [...] Read more.
Patients hospitalized with COVID-19 have low levels of vitamins and trace elements. This could lead to a post-acute COVID-19 condition (PCC) that can worsen a patient’s quality of life. We aimed to study the baseline micronutrient status of patients and assess whether a multiple micronutrient supplement (MMS) taken for 2 weeks at the first sign of COVID-19 symptoms would be able to reduce the incidence of PCC. This double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial was conducted in adult outpatients with acute COVID-19, recruited between 2021 and 2023 in Spain. Of the 285 patients assessed for eligibility, 267 were randomized and 246 were included in the intent-to-treat population. The mean age was 46.8 years, and 68% were female. Overall, 54.6% had micronutrient deficiencies in the acute phase of COVID-19 at baseline, and 26.2% had PCC after 180 days of follow-up (D180). The most frequently recorded PCC symptoms were neurological (14.1%), with 24% patients scoring worse in the cognitive tests compared to their baseline status. The rate of PCC at D180 was similar between the placebo (25.0%) and intervention (27.7%) groups, without significant differences (p = 0.785). Age over 50 years was the most relevant risk factor for developing PCC, followed by female sex. The most important protective factor against PCC was SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. In this population of predominantly middle-aged, white women with acute COVID-19 not requiring hospital admission, MMS intake for 14 days at symptom onset did not prevent PCC nor improve their micronutrient status at D180. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutritional Status and Frailty during and after COVID-19)
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20 pages, 345 KiB  
Article
Differences between Health and Non-Health Science Students in Lifestyle Habits, Perceived Stress and Psychological Well-Being: A Cross-Sectional Study
by Mario Marendić, Diana Aranza, Ivan Aranza, Silvija Vladislavić and Ivana Kolčić
Nutrients 2024, 16(5), 620; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16050620 - 23 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1866
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate lifestyle habits in health and non-health science students from the University of Split, Croatia, and to evaluate their association with perceived stress and psychological well-being. We surveyed 783 students during February–March 2021. Hierarchical multiple regression [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to investigate lifestyle habits in health and non-health science students from the University of Split, Croatia, and to evaluate their association with perceived stress and psychological well-being. We surveyed 783 students during February–March 2021. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used in the analysis. Health science students spent less time using screens, were sitting less, slept less, but also showed better compliance with the Mediterranean diet compared to non-health science students (10.6% vs. 5.9%). There were no differences in stress and well-being perception between the two study groups. Female gender, lack of sleep, less daily sitting time, anxiety, and lower optimism were associated with higher stress in non-health science students, while anxiousness and more sitting were found to be significant among health students. Well-being among health science students was positively associated with BMI, having had COVID-19, being refreshed after waking up during working days, Mediterranean diet adherence, health perception, optimism, and quality of life, and negatively with TV time and anxiousness. Shorter sleep duration on non-working days, feeling refreshed after waking up on non-working days, higher quality of life and optimism, and lower anxiousness were associated with higher well-being among non-health students. Identifying unhealthy lifestyle habits in students is essential for implementing targeted interventions to better their health outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutritional Status and Frailty during and after COVID-19)
16 pages, 1573 KiB  
Article
Longitudinal Changes in Physical Function and Their Impact on Health Outcomes in COVID-19 Patients
by Rebecca De Lorenzo, Luigi Di Filippo, Sabrina Scelfo, Aurora Merolla, Andrea Giustina, Caterina Conte and Patrizia Rovere-Querini
Nutrients 2023, 15(20), 4474; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15204474 - 22 Oct 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1504
Abstract
Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is correlated with a variety of long-term sequelae that affect different aspects of health, including physical function. This study investigated the longitudinal changes in handgrip strength (HGS) over six months post-hospital discharge in COVID-19 patients and explores the associations [...] Read more.
Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is correlated with a variety of long-term sequelae that affect different aspects of health, including physical function. This study investigated the longitudinal changes in handgrip strength (HGS) over six months post-hospital discharge in COVID-19 patients and explores the associations between HGS, health-related quality of life, dyspnoea, exercise capacity, and body mass index (BMI). Methods: Adult COVID-19 patients were followed up at one, three, and six months after hospital discharge. HGS, BMI, exercise capacity, and health-related quality of life were assessed. Data from patients with HGS measurements at all three time points were analysed. Results: Low HGS was prevalent one month post-discharge (35%). Participants with low HGS exhibited more severe disease (30.5% vs. 5.9% were admitted to the intensive care unit, p < 0.01), longer hospital stays (median [IQR] 21 [10.0; 40.5] vs. 12.0 [8.0; 20.0] days, p < 0.01), greater weight loss (−5.7 [−9.1; −0.6] vs. −3.2 [−5.7; −0.0] kg, p = 0.004), and reduced exercise capacity (6 min walking test [6 MWT], 95.7 [84.0; 102.0] vs. 100.0 [92.9; 105.0]% predicted, p = 0.007). Those with persistently low HGS (40% of the initial low HGS group) had worse exercise capacity (6-MWT 93.3 [78.3; 101.0] vs. 101.0 [95.0; 107.0]% predicted, p < 0.001), more dyspnoea (29.0% vs. 2.0% of participants, p < 0.001), poorer quality of life (visual analogue scale score, 75 [50; 75] vs. 85 [75; 95], p < 0.001), and higher rates of problems in various health dimensions. HGS at 1 month was the only significant predictor of HGS improvement from 1 month to 6 months (odds ratio [95% CI] 1.11 [1.03; 1.20], p = 0.008). Conclusions: This study highlights the prevalence of reduced physical function among COVID-19 survivors and emphasises the importance of early identification and intervention to optimise their long-term health. Monitoring HGS, a simple and reliable tool, can provide valuable insights into patients’ overall physical function, aiding in tailored care and improved outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutritional Status and Frailty during and after COVID-19)
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