1. Could nutritional and functional status serve as prognostic factors for COVID-19 in the elderly?
- Author
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Lidoriki I, Frountzas M, and Schizas D
- Subjects
- Aged, Aged, 80 and over, COVID-19 complications, Hand Strength physiology, Humans, Malnutrition complications, Malnutrition physiopathology, Models, Biological, Prognosis, Risk Factors, COVID-19 physiopathology, Functional Status, Nutritional Status physiology
- Abstract
Geriatric patients seem to be the most vulnerable group in COVID-19. These patients are usually characterized by impaired mobilization and malnutrition. In addition, obesity has been correlated with increased mortality rates after COVID-19 infection, highlighting the role of nutrition in prognosis of COVID-19 as well. In the past, several indices of nutritional status (GNRI) and functional status (ECOG performance status, Barthel Index, Handgrip Strength) have demonstrated a prognostic ability for hospitalized patients with influenza-like respiratory infections from coronavirus, metapneumovirus, parainfluenza and rhinovirus. Our hypothesis suggests that the previously mentioned nutritional and functional status indices, combined with the pneumonia severity index (CRB-65), could be useful in prognosis of morbidity and mortality of the elderly after the novel COVID-19 infection. Our hypothesis, is the first in the literature, which suggests a prognostic association between nutritional status of patients and COVID-19 infection, offering a quick and low-cost prognostic tool for COVID-19 in the elderly., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2020
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