The influence of nutritional status and associated factors on the quality of life among COVID-19 patients in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study

Background

COVID-19 adversely affects the nutritional characteristics of patients which may negatively impact their quality of life (QOL). The current study determined the association between the nutritional status of COVID-19 patients, its impact on their QOL, and the factors that affected patients' QOL.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted at Al Madinah Al Munawarah in Saudi Arabia. Patients confirmed with COVID-19 infection by a nucleic acid-positive test and identified as acute severe or acute non-severely ill were enrolled. The World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHO-BREF QOL) was used to assess the patients' QOL, and nutritional status was assessed using the Malnutrition Screening Tool. Demographic characteristics, food intake, and body mass index (BMI) were also assessed. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 28.

Results

515 patients were enrolled, with 391 (76%) having acute non-severe symptoms. Patients (15%) were malnourished and suffered from loss of appetite (32%), low food intake (19.4%) and weight loss (16%). Most patients were satisfied or very satisfied with their health (80.2%), and 76.2% rated their QOL as good or very good. Loss of appetite negatively impacted the physical (p = 0.004, 95% CI 0.086, 0.458) and psychological (p = 0.021, 95% CI 0.034, 0.405) QOL domains. Also, decreased food intake affected patients' physical (p = 0.034, 95% CI 0.018, 0.458) QOL domain. Greater weight loss influenced the psychological (p = 0.005.95% CI 0.002, 0.049) QOL domain.

Conclusions

Poor nutritional status among COVID-19 patients was associated with adverse health outcomes and impaired QOL. Nutritional interventions should focus on patients with poor nutritional status or nutrition-related parameters such as weight loss, and loss of appetite which will help improve their QOL.