Your browser doesn't support javascript.
Weight loss, malnutrition, and cachexia in COVID-19: facts and numbers.
Anker, Markus S; Landmesser, Ulf; von Haehling, Stephan; Butler, Javed; Coats, Andrew J S; Anker, Stefan D.
  • Anker MS; Department of Cardiology, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charité-Campus Benjamin-Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12200, Berlin, Germany.
  • Landmesser U; Berlin Institute of Health Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), Berlin, Germany.
  • von Haehling S; German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner site Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
  • Butler J; Department of Cardiology, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charité-Campus Benjamin-Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12200, Berlin, Germany.
  • Coats AJS; German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner site Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
  • Anker SD; Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany.
J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle ; 12(1): 9-13, 2021 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1001858
ABSTRACT
Patients with COVID-19 disease are prone to develop significant weight loss and clinical cachexia. Three reports with altogether 589 patients that reported on weight loss and cachexia in COVID-19 were identified. Disease severity of patients and the timing of the assessment during the disease course in these patients were variable-65 patients (11%) were intensive care treated at the time of assessment, and 183 (31%) were cared for in sub-intensive or intermediate care structures. The frequency of weight loss ≥5% (that defines cachexia) was 37% (range 29-52%). Correlates of weight loss occurrence were reported to be raised C-reactive protein levels, impaired renal function status, and longer duration of COVID-19 disease. Underweight status by WHO criteria (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 ) was only observed in 4% of patients analysing data from seven studies with 6661 patients. Cachexia assessment in COVID-19 needs assessment of weight loss. COVID-19 associated cachexia is understood to affect muscle and fat tissue as is also seen in many other chronic illness-associated forms of cachexia. There are many factors that can contribute to body wasting in COVID-19, and they include loss of appetite and taste, fever and inflammation, immobilization, as well as general malnutrition, catabolic-anabolic imbalance, endocrine dysfunction, and organ-specific complications of COVID-19 disease such as cardiac and renal dysfunction. Treatment of COVID-19 patients should include a focus on nutritional support and rehabilitative exercise whenever possible. Specific anti-cachectic therapies for COVID-19 do not exist, but constitute a high medical need to prevent long-term disability due to acute COVID-19 disease.
Subject(s)
Keywords

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Cachexia / Weight Loss / Malnutrition / SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 Type of study: Prognostic study Topics: Long Covid Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Jcsm.12674

Similar

MEDLINE

...
LILACS

LIS


Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Cachexia / Weight Loss / Malnutrition / SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 Type of study: Prognostic study Topics: Long Covid Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Jcsm.12674