Introduction:

One of the biggest challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic was carrying out an adequate nutritional assessment, while the risk of developing disease associated malnutrition became one more reason to perform nutritional screening as soon as possible. The aim of this study was to describe the changes that took place in the modality of nutritional assessment of hospitalized adult patients because of the COVID-19 pandemic during the year 2020 in health establishments with general hospitalization, public and private, of Argentina.

Methodology:

Descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study. Non-random sampling. Data from 60 institutions were obtained, through the application of a self-administered questionnaire aimed at Registered Dietitians and distributed through digital platforms. Data was processed with VCCStat - Beta3.0®. Descriptive statistics were calculated with 95%CI.

Results:

40% (95%CI: 26.1-55.6) of the institutions that usually carried out nutritional screening suspended it in the case of patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, and 16% (95%CI: 5.9-41.2) suspended its performance for all hospitalized patients. Nutritional assessment through interconsultation was observed in 18 institutions out of the 50 that used to perform it universally. Remote consultation was implemented in 53% of the establishments (95%CI: 40,1-66,1), while in 22% (95%CI: 12,5-34,5) the information was collected by another member of the Health Team. By the end of 2021, only 57% of the establishments (95%CI: 43,4-69,2) had resumed the way of work prior to the year 2020. Changes impact was perceived as negative by 35% of the respondents (95%CI: 23,4-48,5).

Conclusions:

Main changes during 2020 included suspension of nutritional screening, nutritional assessment by interconsultation and implementation of remote care.

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