Increased nutrition risk at admission is associated with longer hospitalization in children and adolescents with COVID-19

Background We investigated the association of nutritional risk and inflammatory marker level with length of stay (LOS) in children and adolescents hospitalized for COVID-19 infection in two pediatric teaching hospitals in a developing country. Methods This was a cross-sectional analytical retrospective study performed in two pediatric hospitals. We included the data from all children and adolescents who were hospitalized with a SARS-CoV-2 infection between March and December 2020. Demographic, anthropometric, clinical, and laboratory data were extracted from electronic medical records. Nutritional risk was assessed according to the STRONGkids tool within 24 hours of admission and was categorized into two levels: >= 4 (high risk) and <4 (moderate or low risk). Means or medians were compared between nutritional risk groups using the t test and Mann-Whitney U test, respectively. The association of nutritional risk and inflammatory markers with LOS was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. Cox proportional-hazard and linear regression models were performed, and adjusted for sex, age, and respiratory symptoms. Results From a total of 73 patients, 20 (27.4%) had a STRONGkids score >= 4 at admission, which was associated with a longer LOS even after adjusting (beta = 12.30; 1.74-22.9 95% CI; P = 0.023). The same association was observed between LOS and all laboratory markers except for D-dimer. Conclusion Among children and adolescents with COVID-19, a STRONGkids score >= 4 at admission, lower values of albumin, lymphocytes, and hemoglobin, and higher CRP values were associated with longer LOS.