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Assessment of Muscle Function in Severe and Malnourished COVID-19 Patients

Received: 3 November 2020     Accepted: 13 November 2020     Published: 23 November 2020
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Abstract

COVID-19 is a disease at high risk of muscle failure and undernutrition. In this setting, systematic screenings are necessary to assess muscle deficit during hospitalization and after discharge. Objective: To analyze the interest of a self-assessment of muscle strength (SES) to evaluate the evolution of muscle strength during COVID-19 and to assess the agreement between SES and the handgrip test. Methods: Prospective cohort study including all inpatients diagnosed with COVID-19 admitted in a non-ICU unit, until the required number of subjects is reached. Handgrip test and SES were recorded at admission and every two days during hospitalization and at Day30 post-discharge. Sarcopenic screening test (SARC-F) and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF) were administered before admission and on Day30. Nutritional status was recorded at admission, at discharge and at Day30 post-discharge. Evolution effects were analyzed using ANOVA for repeated measures and Pearson's chi-square test (p< 0.05). Results: Handgrip and SES progression were significantly correlated (p=0.004), SES <7 enabled detecting 95% of patients with progression in muscle strength. Muscle failure incidence was lower at discharge (73% to 42% for handgrip and 69% to 42% for SES (p=0.0035)). At admission, 61% had ≥30% reduction in food intake which was higher in the presence of anosmia and inflammation; 73% presented malnutrition and 19% necessitated tube feeding due to severe malnutrition as well as insufficient nutrition intake. Weight loss kinetics decreased significantly during hospitalization (-0.4±1.6% vs. -5.4±6.3% pre-admission, p=0.0016). At Day 30, 17% had a severe muscle failure (SES<7 and/or SARC-F>6) and 32% had persistent severe malnutrition. Conclusion: The present study showed that three quarters of COVID-19 patients admitted in a non-ICU setting presented malnutrition as well as sarcopenia as assessed by hand strength. Screening for malnutrition and muscle failure should be initiated immediately at the onset of care, with the aim of improving nutritional status as well as maintaining muscle mass and physical performance. During hospitalization, grip strength measured by a handheld dynamometer is inexpensive and easy to administer, even in a COVID unit. On the other hand, the 10-point verbal or visual analogue scales (SES) could prove useful in assessing the long-term progression of muscle strength.

Published in International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences (Volume 9, Issue 5)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijnfs.20200905.12
Page(s) 132-137
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

COVID-19, Sarcopenia, Muscle Failure, Malnutrition, Handgrip, Self-Evaluation

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Marine Gerard, Phi-Linh Nguyen-Thi, Aurelie Malgras, Thomas Bermand, Roland Jaussaud, et al. (2020). Assessment of Muscle Function in Severe and Malnourished COVID-19 Patients. International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences, 9(5), 132-137. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnfs.20200905.12

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    ACS Style

    Marine Gerard; Phi-Linh Nguyen-Thi; Aurelie Malgras; Thomas Bermand; Roland Jaussaud, et al. Assessment of Muscle Function in Severe and Malnourished COVID-19 Patients. Int. J. Nutr. Food Sci. 2020, 9(5), 132-137. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnfs.20200905.12

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    AMA Style

    Marine Gerard, Phi-Linh Nguyen-Thi, Aurelie Malgras, Thomas Bermand, Roland Jaussaud, et al. Assessment of Muscle Function in Severe and Malnourished COVID-19 Patients. Int J Nutr Food Sci. 2020;9(5):132-137. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnfs.20200905.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijnfs.20200905.12,
      author = {Marine Gerard and Phi-Linh Nguyen-Thi and Aurelie Malgras and Thomas Bermand and Roland Jaussaud and Didier Quilliot},
      title = {Assessment of Muscle Function in Severe and Malnourished COVID-19 Patients},
      journal = {International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences},
      volume = {9},
      number = {5},
      pages = {132-137},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijnfs.20200905.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnfs.20200905.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijnfs.20200905.12},
      abstract = {COVID-19 is a disease at high risk of muscle failure and undernutrition. In this setting, systematic screenings are necessary to assess muscle deficit during hospitalization and after discharge. Objective: To analyze the interest of a self-assessment of muscle strength (SES) to evaluate the evolution of muscle strength during COVID-19 and to assess the agreement between SES and the handgrip test. Methods: Prospective cohort study including all inpatients diagnosed with COVID-19 admitted in a non-ICU unit, until the required number of subjects is reached. Handgrip test and SES were recorded at admission and every two days during hospitalization and at Day30 post-discharge. Sarcopenic screening test (SARC-F) and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF) were administered before admission and on Day30. Nutritional status was recorded at admission, at discharge and at Day30 post-discharge. Evolution effects were analyzed using ANOVA for repeated measures and Pearson's chi-square test (p6) and 32% had persistent severe malnutrition. Conclusion: The present study showed that three quarters of COVID-19 patients admitted in a non-ICU setting presented malnutrition as well as sarcopenia as assessed by hand strength. Screening for malnutrition and muscle failure should be initiated immediately at the onset of care, with the aim of improving nutritional status as well as maintaining muscle mass and physical performance. During hospitalization, grip strength measured by a handheld dynamometer is inexpensive and easy to administer, even in a COVID unit. On the other hand, the 10-point verbal or visual analogue scales (SES) could prove useful in assessing the long-term progression of muscle strength.},
     year = {2020}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Assessment of Muscle Function in Severe and Malnourished COVID-19 Patients
    AU  - Marine Gerard
    AU  - Phi-Linh Nguyen-Thi
    AU  - Aurelie Malgras
    AU  - Thomas Bermand
    AU  - Roland Jaussaud
    AU  - Didier Quilliot
    Y1  - 2020/11/23
    PY  - 2020
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnfs.20200905.12
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijnfs.20200905.12
    T2  - International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences
    JF  - International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences
    JO  - International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences
    SP  - 132
    EP  - 137
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2327-2716
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnfs.20200905.12
    AB  - COVID-19 is a disease at high risk of muscle failure and undernutrition. In this setting, systematic screenings are necessary to assess muscle deficit during hospitalization and after discharge. Objective: To analyze the interest of a self-assessment of muscle strength (SES) to evaluate the evolution of muscle strength during COVID-19 and to assess the agreement between SES and the handgrip test. Methods: Prospective cohort study including all inpatients diagnosed with COVID-19 admitted in a non-ICU unit, until the required number of subjects is reached. Handgrip test and SES were recorded at admission and every two days during hospitalization and at Day30 post-discharge. Sarcopenic screening test (SARC-F) and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF) were administered before admission and on Day30. Nutritional status was recorded at admission, at discharge and at Day30 post-discharge. Evolution effects were analyzed using ANOVA for repeated measures and Pearson's chi-square test (p6) and 32% had persistent severe malnutrition. Conclusion: The present study showed that three quarters of COVID-19 patients admitted in a non-ICU setting presented malnutrition as well as sarcopenia as assessed by hand strength. Screening for malnutrition and muscle failure should be initiated immediately at the onset of care, with the aim of improving nutritional status as well as maintaining muscle mass and physical performance. During hospitalization, grip strength measured by a handheld dynamometer is inexpensive and easy to administer, even in a COVID unit. On the other hand, the 10-point verbal or visual analogue scales (SES) could prove useful in assessing the long-term progression of muscle strength.
    VL  - 9
    IS  - 5
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Transversal Unit of Nutrition, Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Nutrition, University of Lorraine, CHRU Nancy, Brabois Hospital, Nancy, France

  • Medical Evaluation Department, Department of Clinical Research Support PARC, University of Lorraine, CHU Nancy, France

  • Transversal Unit of Nutrition, Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Nutrition, University of Lorraine, CHRU Nancy, Brabois Hospital, Nancy, France

  • Internal Medicine and Clinical Immunology Department, Nancy University Hospital, Nancy, France

  • Internal Medicine and Clinical Immunology Department, Nancy University Hospital, Nancy, France

  • Transversal Unit of Nutrition, Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Nutrition, University of Lorraine, CHRU Nancy, Brabois Hospital, Nancy, France

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