# Advanced and Careful Hospital Nutrition Reduces Respiratory Assistance and Hospitalization in Patients With COVID‐19: A Retrospective Longitudinal Observational Study

## TL;DR

Improving hospital nutrition for COVID-19 patients with advanced culinary techniques reduces the need for respiratory support and shortens hospital stays.

## Contribution

Demonstrates that advanced hospital nutrition techniques improve outcomes for hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

## Key findings

- Advanced hospital nutrition improves food intake in patients with digestive symptoms.
- Patients receiving advanced nutrition required less respiratory assistance.
- Improved nutrition shortened the average hospital stay for COVID-19 patients.

## Abstract

Hospital nutrition is an essential component of the multidisciplinary care of COVID‐19 patients. Malnourished COVID‐19 patients present more symptoms, complications, and require longer hospitalization times. Therefore, the aim of the present investigation was to study the influence of an advanced and careful hospital nutrition on COVID‐19 patients' evolution and treatment.

One hundred and twenty‐two patients suffering from COVID‐19 and hospitalized in the “Clínica Universidad de Navarra” (CUN) (Madrid) and attended by professionals from the hospital's gastronomy and nutrition area participated in the study. Hospital meals were subjected to advanced culinary techniques such as sous vide cooking, special electrical oven, food marination, and steam and pressure cooking. Clinical, food intake, respiratory assistance, and hospital stay were assessed.

COVID‐19 patients present comorbidities and digestive symptoms which impair food intake and adherence to a healthy diet. The use of advanced and careful hospital nutrition using special culinary techniques that maintain the organoleptic characteristics of the meals improves patients' intake, reducing the requirement for respiratory assistance and shortening hospital stay.

Advanced hospital nutrition is key in managing patients affected by COVID‐19 because it influences their progression and treatment.