Relación entre el estado nutricional y la neumonía grave por Covid-19 en pacientes entre 5 a 17 años de edad ingresados en el Hospital de niños Dr. Roberto Gilbert Elizalde durante el periodo enero 2020 a marzo 2025.

Abstract

Introduction: Pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2 presents a disproportionate immune activation, greater inflammation and coagulopathy which could be involved in the progression and worsening of the disease. In this way, nutritional status could influence since it intervenes in the modulation of inflammation and immune function, impacting the prognosis of the pathology. Methods: An observational, retrospective, cross-sectional, analytical case-control study was carried out, which included patients diagnosed with pneumonia between 5 and 17 years old admitted during the period from January 2020 to March 2025 who met inclusion criteria. A descriptive statistical analysis was carried out, inferential statistics were used, the Chi square method, Wilcoxon test, T-student and p-value, in addition to using odds ratio (OR) and confidence intervals (CI). Results: A total of 124 patients, of which 62 corresponded to severe pneumonia (cases) and 62 to pneumonia (controls), showing that the age group 11 to 17 years, overweight and stay of more than 7 days presented a higher risk of severe pneumonia; the hospital stay in controls had an average of 6.19 days while cases 14.03 days. Conclusions: Overweight children had a higher risk of severe pneumonia due to COVID-19, the average stay in patients with severe pneumonia with thinness and overweight was affected more than three times, while in obesity it was more than double and thinness was associated with a higher risk of death.