Nutrition practices in COVID-19 patients

The COVID-19 pandemic posed a huge challenge to the healthcare system worldwide. India being a developing country, was pushed to the brim of its capabilities due to exhaustion of manpower and financial resources. Currently there are very few studies linked to nutrition in COVID-19 in Indian scenario. In this study we aim to study the nutrition practices among hospitalised Covid-19 patients from tier I and tier II cities of India. An online survey was conducted among 70 COVID hospitals of India from both government and private sector. The data was collected by the use of cloud-based spreadsheet function in googledocs of the selected 70 hospitals. 63 out of 70 respondents used height, weight and BMI criteria to calculate calorie protein requirement of the patients. With the remaining 7, two respondents from government and private hospitals used direct calorimetry and three private hospitals used indirect calorimetry (IC) method. It was observed that the number of patients on EN was higher than PN in wards as well as in ICU. 38 respondents initiated EN within 24 hours, 18 respondents did within 24-36 hrs, of patient’s ICU admission. 39 respondents checked Gastric Residual Volume in patients in prone position on ventilator as part of monitoring. As nutrition is considered equally important in treating COVID-19 patients, it is suggestive that one common government body can be formed which can formulate an India specific standardised nutrition protocol for all the practicing dieticians and health care workers.