Optimizing nutrition throughout the COVID-19 trajectory: from admission to ICU to discharge

Jonathan, Asprer

The nutritional consequences of COVID-19 infection must be recognized by health care professionals (HCPS) who are frontlines in the fight against COVID-19. At the time of admission patients are likely to be suffering from some degree of malnutrition and early nutritional assessment and care planning should be integrated into the overall therapeutic strategy along with control of the viral infection from supportive measures for mild to moderate illness to the full range of respiratory hemodynamic and relevant organ support in critical illness in ICU. There are guidelines (international and local) on nutrition in COVID-19 patients and these should be adapted for various local settings. An algorithmic approach will be presented to cover key issues for optimizing the nutrition management of COVID-19 patients from admission to the ward or to ICU and thence on to discharge.