Impact of Protein Energy Malnutrition on Outcomes of Adults With Viral Pneumonia: A Nationwide Retrospective Analysis

Background Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Viral organisms have been identified as the causal pathogen in approximately 20% of CAP. Nutritional status plays an important role in the response to pneumonia. This study aims to identify whether protein energy malnutrition (PEM) is an independent risk factor for mortality and morbidity in viral CAP. Materials and methods This was a retrospective cohort study involving adult hospitalizations for viral CAP in the United States using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. This cohort was further divided based on the presence or absence of a secondary discharge diagnosis of PEM. The primary outcome was inpatient mortality. Secondary outcomes included the rate of mechanical ventilation among other complications. Results The in-hospital mortality for viral CAP was 2.22%. Patients with PEM had over two-fold high adjusted odds of inpatient mortality (aOR: 2.42, 95% CI: 1.746-3.351, p < 0.001) compared with patients without PEM. Patients with PEM had higher adjusted odds of having septic shock (aOR: 3.34, 95% CI: 2.158-5.160, p < 0.001). NSTEMI (aOR: 1.75, 95% CI: 1.163-2.621, p = 0.007), need for mechanical ventilation (aOR: 3.13, 95% CI: 2.448-4.006, p < 0.001), CVA (aOR: 3.49, 95% CI: 1.687-7.220, p = 0.001), DVT (aOR: 2.19, 95% CI: 1.453-3.295, p < 0.001), and PE (aOR: 2.24, 95% CI: 1.152-4.357, p = 0.017) relative to patients without PEM. Conclusion In conclusion, coexisting PEM is associated with a higher rate of in-hospital morbidity and mortality in patients with viral CAP. Early identification and treatment of nutritional deficiencies can lead to improved outcomes and reduced costs.