Nutricia supports independent research to improve the recovery of COVID-19 patients
Nutricia is providing funding of €1 million to support clinician-led research initiatives in 16 countries, aiming to improve nutritional care for patients leaving hospital after severe COVID-19 infection
Watch Dr. Cereda’s personal reflection on working with COVID-19 patients, the role of nutrition and the need for more research. Dr. Cereda works at one of the healthcare institutions granted funding by Nutricia to do independent research on the nutritional management in the recovery journey of COVID-19 patients.
Effective management of patient rehabilitation after discharge from hospital
The coronavirus outbreak was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on 11 March 2020. In the months since, the symptoms, characteristics and treatment options of COVID-19 infection have become better understood by the medical community. However, more investigation is needed into the effective management of patient rehabilitation after discharge from hospital, particularly for those patients who have endured prolonged hospital/ICU stays due to severe infection.
Although medical nutrition has been shown to positively contribute to improved clinical outcomes1,2, better quality of life1,2 and earlier hospital discharge2 in a variety of diseases and conditions, it is not always recognized to be an integral part of the package of care patients receive. Indeed, only 1 out of 3 hospital patients receive the nutritional care that they need3. This issue has become even more important to address in the current pandemic as COVID-19 is associated with nutritional risk4 due to extended ICU stays. These patients in particular are known to potentially face a range of physical and emotional issues5 that can further hamper their ability to get the nutrition they need to make a more complete recovery.
The need for real-world evidence
ESPEN (European Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition) issued practical guidance to support the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of malnutrition in patients with COVID-19 infection6. This highlights the need to ensure continuity of nutritional management of malnourished patients after hospital discharge, with individualized nutritional plans and oral nutritional support (ONS) when indicated6. Today, nutritional management is based on existing knowledge regarding malnutrition; however, real-world evidence for patients with COVID-19 remains unavailable to date.
Nutricia launches NutriCOVer program to support independent research and nutritional guidance for COVID-19 patient recovery
The NutriCOVer program launched by Nutricia aims to advance knowledge and practice in COVID-19 patient recovery via an umbrella funding program. The program allocates €1m to independent, investigator-led studies focusing on nutritional needs and management of malnutrition after hospital discharge and during recovery from severe COVID 19 infection. Through the program we aim to improve knowledge on nutritional needs, explore the benefit of nutritional interventions, and support best practice and development of evidence-base for clinical guidance and nutritional pathways for this vulnerable patient group.
Additionally, the NutriCOVer program, involving 16 countries, will provide a framework for a network of investigators leading individual initiatives, for example by hosting events to present research and discuss learnings and data, the first of which are expected this autumn.
Press release about new research initiatives
Read the press release about the new research and aid initiatives being supported by Nutricia, for the recovery of severe COVID-19 patients after hospital discharge.
Medical nutrition and COVID-19 media fact sheet
Read more background information about medical nutrition and COVID-19 in the media fact sheet here.
Our COVID-19 webinar series
Subscribe to or watch our webinar series (healthcare professionals only) for the latest on the nutritional management of COVID-19 patients.