Nutritional Status of COVID 19 Patients: Possible Impact on Mental Health Status

OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of the nutritional status of COVID-19 patients on their mental health status. It is hypothesized that patients would have impaired mental health status due to compromised nutritional status METHODS: An epidemiological, cross-sectional study included acute-severely ill COVID-19 patients in Al Madinah Al Munawarah, Saudi Arabia. The following parameters were assessed: demographic characteristics, nutritional status (using the Malnutrition Screening Tool), BMI, loss of appetite, weight loss, decreased food intake and mental health status (using the PHQ-9 to determine the severity of depression). Data collectors wore Personal Protective Equipment and spent a maximum of 15 minutes with each patient. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ministry of Health as well as patients. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 26. RESULTS: Patients (n = 515; 82% males) were included. They aged 31–50 years old (60%), married (85%), had low education level (85%), employed in non-governmental sectors (67%), and were non-Saudis (76%). Patients complained of loss of appetite (32%), weight loss (16%), and decreased food intake (19%). A significant number were at risk (13.6%) and 1.6% had high risk of malnutrition. Patients (4%) were underweight and 45% were overweight and/or obese. The mean BMI was 25.4 (SD = 5). They (23.4%) suffered from various degrees of depression. Mild depression was most prevalent (17%) followed by moderate depression (4.3%). Moderately severe and severe depression were common among 2.1%. One way ANOVA indicated that the severity of depression associated with the loss of appetite (P < 0.0005), decreased food intake (P < 0.0005), weight loss (P < 0.0005), and BMI (P < 0.0005). Linear Multiple Regression showed that the loss of appetite (B = 0.037, 95%CI = 0.011–0.352, P = 0.037), weight loss (B = 0.114, 95%CI = 0.000–0.228, P = 0.0049), and BMI (B = 0.031, 95%CI = 0.004–0.057, P = 0.023) affected patients' severity of depression. CONCLUSIONS: Possible factors associated with depression included loss of appetite, decreased food intake, weight change and BMI. Early detection of malnutrition-related factors and depression reduces hospital stay and cost of medication. It speeds up the rate of recovery, improves health outcomes and the quality of life. FUNDING SOURCES: No funding was received.