Evolution of nutrition support in patients with COVID-19 disease admitted in the Intensive Care Unit

INTRODUCTION: Nutritional support in patients with COVID19 can influence the mean stay and complications in the patient in Intensive Care Unit (ICU). AIMS: To evaluate the selection of enteral nutritional treatment in the COVID-19 patient admitted to the ICU. To know the development of dysphagia and its treatment. To evaluate the adjustment to the requirements and its relationship with the patient's complications. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One-center longitudinal retrospective study in 71 patients admitted to the ICU with COVID19 infection and complete enteral nutrition between March and April 2020. Clinical variables were collected: length of stay in ICU, mean stay and rate of complications; and estimated anthropometric variables. RESULTS: The mean age was 61.84 (13.68) years. Among the patients analyzed, 33 (46.5%) died. The median stay in the ICU was 20 (15.75−32) days and the mean stay was 37 (26.75−63) days. The type of formula most prescribed was normoprotein 24 (35.3%) and diabetes-specific 23 (33.8%) depending on the prescribed formula. There was no difference in mean stay (p = 0.39) or death rate (p = 0.35). The percentage of achievement of the estimated protein requirements was 50 (34.38−68.76). At discharge, 8 (21%) of the patients had dysphagia. A relationship was observed between the mean ICU stay and the probability of developing dysphagia (OR: 1.035 (1.004−1.07); p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: In the patient with COVID19 disease admitted to the ICU, only half of the necessary protein requirements were reached. The presence of dysphagia at discharge was related to the length of time the patient was in the ICU.