Although increased weight, and particularly obesity, has been associated with a more severe clinical course of COVID-19 and risk of fatality, the course of the illness can lead to prolonged length of stay. Changes in nutritional status and weight loss during hospitalisation are largely reported in some populations, but still not explored in COVID-19 patients. Considering that patients with COVID-19 show an increased inflammatory response, other signs and symptoms, which can lead to weight and muscle loss, should be monitored. The aim of this article was to establish possible connections between COVID-19, prolonged hospitalisation and muscle wasting, as well as to propose nutritional recommendations for the prevention and treatment of cachexia, through a narrative review. Identification of risk and presence of malnutrition should be an early step in general assessment of all patients, with regard to more at-risk categories including older adults and individuals suffering from chronic and acute disease conditions, such as COVID-19. The deterioration of nutritional status, and consequently cachexia, increases the risk of mortality and needs to be treated with attention as other complications. There is, however, little hard evidence of nutritional approaches in assisting COVID-19 treatment or its management including cachexia.

中文翻译：

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COVID-19 会成为重症监护期间患者恶病质的风险吗？叙述回顾和营养建议

尽管体重增加，特别是肥胖，与更严重的 COVID-19 临床病程和死亡风险有关，但病程可能导致住院时间延长。住院期间营养状况的变化和体重减轻主要在某些人群中报告，但尚未在 COVID-19 患者中进行探讨。考虑到 COVID-19 患者表现出炎症反应增加，因此应监测可能导致体重和肌肉损失的其他体征和症状。本文的目的是通过叙述性回顾，建立 COVID-19、长期住院和肌肉萎缩之间可能的联系，并提出预防和治疗恶病质的营养建议。识别风险和营养不良的存在应该是对所有患者进行一般评估的早期步骤，对于高危类别，包括老年人和患有慢性和急性疾病（例如 COVID-19）的个人。营养状况恶化，进而导致恶病质，会增加死亡风险，需要像其他并发症一样予以重视。然而，几乎没有确凿的证据表明营养方法可以辅助 COVID-19 治疗或其管理（包括恶病质）。