Impact of early in-hospital nutritional status on clinical outcomes in Coronavirus disease 2019 patients: A single-center retrospective analysis

Abstract Background This study investigated the effects of nutritional status at the time of admission on clinical outcomes in patients with Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 54 patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Clinical data of admitted patients, albumin and pre-serum albumin levels, gastrointestinal intolerance, and general information were collected and analyzed. The primary clinical outcomes were length of hospital stay and hospitalization costs. Results The results showed that albumin and pre-serum albumin levels of patients at admission were negatively associated with the length of hospital stay and hospitalization costs (P < 0.001). Patients with poor appetite had longer hospital stays (P < 0.001) and higher hospital costs (P = 0.022). Conclusion These results indicated that the nutritional status at admission can directly influence the clinical outcomes of COVID-19.