Predictors of Coronavirus disease 2019 in older patients: Exploring body composition and muscle strength

Evidence underscores the impact of the inflammatory response caused by Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) on nutritional status. However, there remains a notable gap in research investigating preexisting alterations in body composition and muscle function as potential risk factors for COVID-19 development. Thus, this study aimed to examine the relationship between abnormalities in body composition and muscle function and the incidence of COVID-19 among older patients.

This was a secondary analysis of a cohort study involving older patients. Body composition assessment was estimated using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), and included measurements of fat mass (%), total body water (TBW, %), and appendicular lean soft tissues (ALST/ALSTI: ALST normalized to height²). Muscle function was evaluated through the handgrip strength (HGS) test. Data on COVID-19 status were collected through telephone interviews with patients or their immediate relatives, after 12-24 months after hospital discharge.

This analysis included 120 subjects (59.1 % males, median age: 69 years old). Higher values of fat mass (%) independently predicted COVID-19 infection (HR _adjusted 1.11, 95 % CI 1.04 to 1.18, P = 0.003). We also observed a trend indicating that higher TBW% was associated with a potential lower hazard for COVID-19 infection (HR _adjusted 0.94, 95 % CI 0.89 to 1.01, P = 0.08). ALST, ALSTI, and HGS were not associated with a higher hazard for COVID-19 infection (all P-values >.05).

This study demonstrates the relevance of addressing excess body fat in older patients to potentially mitigate the risk of COVID-19 infection.