Epidemiological characteristics and nutritional status of patients recovered from COVID-19, municipality of Regla

Abstract

Background: the best natural defense against viral infections is an efficient immune system. It depends to a large extent on the nutritional status of each patient.Objective: to describe epidemiological characteristics and elements of the nutritional status of patients recovered from COVID-19 at the municipality of Regla.Methods: a descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out at the department of nutrition of the “Lidia y Clodomira” University Polyclinic, Regla, Havana. Out of the universe of patients suffering from COVID-19 from May through October 2020 in the health district, a sample was made up, which included one-month post-convalescent patients older than 20 years with negative PCR, resulting in 67. Demographic, clinical, anthropometric and biochemical variables were analyzed.Results: the average age was of 41 years. The disease presented with more frequency in the male sex (59,7 %) and the 20 to 39 age group (47,8 %). There was a prevalence of contacts of positive cases (76,1 %) and of asymptomatic patients (70,1 %). Asthenia (14,9 %) was the commonest persistent symptom. A high frequency of global overweight was identified (60 %). Women, according to indicators of regional adiposity, presented a moderate cardiovascular risk and a higher percentage of weight loss after COVID-19. On the whole, the average values of the biochemical variables remained in the reference rank.Conclusions: the characteristics of patients recovered from COVID-19 were described, with a high prevalence of global overweight. Women presented a higher percentage of weight loss as a result from the disease.

Keywords

• coronavirus infections
• epidemiology, nutritional status
• immune system
• covid-19