Impact of Nutritional Therapy during Intensive Care Unit Admission on Post-Intensive Care Syndrome in Patients with COVID-19

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Introduction: Nutritional therapy is an important component of intensive care. We investigated the associations of nutritional therapy in the acute phase of severe COVID-19 with the long-term outcomes of post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) and post-COVID-19 conditions. Methods: A questionnaire on the health status after COVID-19 was sent to patients 1 year after infection and PICS was evaluated. Total energy and protein intakes during the first week after admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) were calculated. The primary endpoint was a decrease in quality of life (QOL) defined by EuroQol5-dimensions 5-level (EQ5D5L) <0.8. A multivariable regression analysis was used to examine. Results: A total of 220 ICU patients were included in this study. Median total energy and protein intakes were 65.1 kcal/kg/week and 3.3 g/kg/week, respectively. Total energy and protein intakes were associated with EQ5D5L scores (energy: unit odds ratio 0.98 [0.97–0.99], p value <0.01; protein: unit odds ratio 0.72 [0.59–0.87], p value <0.01). Insufficient total energy and protein intakes were associated with malaise, arthralgia, myalgia, palpitations, sleep disturbance, and muscle weakness. Conclusions: Poor nutrition during the first week after ICU admission was associated with a decreased QOL 1 year after. These nutrition shortages were also associated with an increased risk of developing PICS, post-COVID-19 conditions, which may contribute to decreased QOL.