ABSTRACT
Rationale: COVID-19 may manifest with a wide range of symptoms and its degree of severity may be from mild to severe. Our aim was to assess the prevalence and pathophysiology of oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD), malnutrition (MN), nutritional risk, and the needs of compensatory treatments in patients admitted due to COVID-19 at the Consorci Sanitari del Marseme (CSdM), Catalonia, Spain. Methods: Prospective observational study with clinical assessment of OD (clinical symptoms, clinical observation and Volume-Viscotisy Swallowing Test) and nutritional screening with NRS2002 and GLIM criteria in consecutive COVID-19 patients admitted at the Hospital de Mataró (CSdM) during 2020 Covid-19 pandemics. Patient’s clinical characteristics and their needs of compensatory treatments for OD and MN were assessed at baseline and will be followed up at 3 and 6 months. Here we present the baseline data. Results: We included 268 hospitalized patients, 52.2% men, with a mean age of 70.2±17.0 yr, severity of disease was moderate-severe in 34%. At hospital admission prevalence of OD was 52.4% (49.4% had impaired efficacy and 44.9% impaired safety of swallow). Pathophysiology of OD includes ICU and post-extubating factors (16%), neurological factors (32%), respiratory insufficiency (42%) and interstitial pneumonia (74%). Up to 43.7% of patients needed thickeners to be safely hydrated (38.7% with 250mPa·s and 5.2% with 800mPa·s of Xanthan Gum thickeners) and 54.5% had mastication impairments needing texture-modified diets (27.7% easy mastication and 28.8% puree). 74.2% of patients presented a NRS2002>3 and were at risk of MN, 46% had MN and 73.8% of patients received ONS. Conclusion: Prevalence of OD, nutritional risk and MN in patients with COVID-19 at admission in a General Hospital is very high. Pathophysiology is multifactorial and not limited to ICU factors. Early treatment includes fluid thickening, texture modified foods and nutritional support. References: 10 Basic procedures to assess and treat oropharyngeal dysphagia in patients with COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Disclosure of Interest: O. Ortega: None declared, V. Arreola: None declared, W. Nascimento: None declared, A. Martín: None declared, A. Costa: None declared, M. Arús: None declared, M. Roca: None declared, P. Viñas: None declared, S. Carríon: None declared, P. Clavé Grant / Research Support from: Nutricia Danone Advanced Nutrition