Multisystem inflammatory syndrome is associated with COVID-19 and can result in reduced food intake, increased muscle catabolism, and electrolyte imbalance. Therefore COVID-19 patients are at high risk of being malnourished and of refeeding syndrome. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence and correlates of malnutrition and refeeding syndrome (RS) among COVID-19 patients in Hanoi, Vietnam. This prospective cohort study analyzed data from 1207 patients who were treated at the COVID-19 hospital of Hanoi Medical University (HMUH COVID-19) between September 2021 and March 2022. Nutritional status was evaluated by the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) and laboratory markers. GLIM-defined malnutrition was found in 614 (50.9%) patients. Among those with malnutrition, 380 (31.5%) and 234 (19.4%) had moderate and severe malnutrition, respectively. The prevalence of risk of RS was 346 (28.7%). Those with severe and critical COVID symptoms are more likely to be at risk of RS compared to those with mild or moderate COVID, and having severe and critical COVID-19 infection increased the incidence of RS by 2.47 times, compared to mild and moderate disease. There was an association between levels of COVID-19, older ages, comorbidities, the inability of eating independently, hypoalbuminemia and hyponatremia with malnutrition. The proportion of COVID-19 patients who suffered from malnutrition was high. These results underscore the importance of early nutritional screening and assessment in COVID-19 patients, especially those with severe and critical infection.

Background: Evidence on the effects of nutritional interventions on gastrointestinal cancer patients receiving chemotherapy is not well documented. This study aims to assess the effects of nutritional intervention in patients diagnosed with stomach and colon cancer receiving chemotherapy in Vietnam. Methods: A quasi-experiment with intervention and control groups for pre- and post-intervention was carried out in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy in a university hospital in Vietnam. Patients in the intervention group were provided nutritional counseling, personalized specific dietary advice, and received oral nutrition supplements (ONSs) while patients in the control group only received nutrition counseling. Results: The weight in the intervention and control group after 2 months increased significantly by 1.4 ± 2.6 kg and 0.4 ± 2.3 kg, respectively. Muscle mass increased by 1.2 ± 4.1 cm in the intervention group, while those in the control group decreased by 0.55 ± 2.77 cm. There was no statistical significance between two groups after intervention in terms of Mid–Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) and percentage of fat. The percentage of malnutrition based on the Scored Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) and Body Mass Index (BMI) declined after the intervention in both groups. According to the average treatment effect on the treated (ATT) using the propensity score matching and DiD method, participants receiving the intervention were more likely to have a higher score of weight (Coef = 0.84; 95%CI = 0.47; 2.16) and muscle mass (Coef = 1.08; 95%CI = 0.09; 2.06) between pre- and post-intervention. By contrast, the PG-SGA scores on treated participants were more likely to decrease after the intervention (Coef = −1.28; 95%CI = −4.39; −0.84). After matching, being female, living in rural areas, or having stomach cancer were still positively related to being moderately/severely malnourished by the PG-SGA, and these findings were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The nutritional interventions had a positive effect on weight gain, muscle mass, and reduced malnutrition. Further studies with a longer follow-up duration are needed to confirm the effects of the intervention.

Nghiên cứu thực hiện trên 460 người bệnh COVID-19 mức độ nặng và nguy kịch tại Biệnh viện Điều trị người bệnh COVID-19 trực thuộc Bệnh viện Đại học Y Hà Nội từ tháng 9 năm 2021 đến nay với 2 mục tiêu: Mô tả thực trạng rối loạn đường huyết tại thời điểm 24 – 48 giờ đầu nhập viện, ngày giữa và trước khi xuất viện; Phân tích một số yếu tố liên quan đến tình trạng rối loạn đường huyết của người bệnh trong vòng 24 giờ đầu nhập viện, mối liên quan giữa tình trạng rối loạn đường huyết với kết quả điều trị của người bệnh. Kết quả cho thấy người bệnh COVID-19 có tiền sử đái tháo đường gặp tình trạng rối loạn đường huyết cao hơn (88,41% và 71,62%). Một số yếu tố liên quan đến tình trạng rối loạn đường huyết của người bệnh có ý nghĩa thống kê như liệu pháp hỗ trợ hô hấp hay tình trạng sử dụng thuốc gây mê. Sự dao động đường huyết trong thời gian nằm viện và trước khi xuất viện có mối liên quan có ý nghĩa thống kê với kết quả đầu ra của người bệnh.

Mục tiêu: Mô tả khẩu phần ăn thực tế, đánh giá thực trạng suy mòn cơ và mối liên quan đối với khẩu phần của người cao tuổi tại trung tâm chăm sóc người cao tuổi năm 2023. Phương pháp: Nghiên cứu cắt ngang trên 100 người cao tuổi đang được chăm sóc toàn thời gian tại Trung tâm chăm sóc người cao tuổi Tuyết Thái tại huyện Đông Anh, thành phố Hà Nội từ tháng 1 đến tháng 6 năm 2023. Kết quả: Giá trị trung vị (khoảng tứ phân vị) của năng lượng khẩu phần là 1304,2 (1092,7-1462,5) kcal/ngày, đạt 84% nhu cầu khuyến nghị (NCKN). Giá trị trung vị (khoảng tứ phân vị) của glucid, protein và lipid lần lượt là 175,9 (149,8-217,2), 52,6 (42,5-61,7) và 38,5 (34,0-39,6) g/ngày, và đạt 78,9%, 97,7% và 88,9% NCKN. Phần lớn đối tượng không đạt NCKN về vitamin và khoáng chất. Có 69,0% đối tượng nghiên cứu có nguy cơ mắc suy mòn cơ. Có mối liên quan giữa lượng protein ăn vào và tuổi của người cao tuổi với nguy cơ suy mòn cơ. Kết luận: Người cao tuổi có khẩu phần ăn thiếu về cả năng lượng, vitamin và khoáng chất. Nguy cơ mắc suy mòn cơ ở người cao tuổi còn khá cao và có liên quan đến khẩu phần protein và tuổi của người cao tuổi.

Rationale: Measuring gastric residual volume (GRV) remains common in intensive care units (ICUs), despite weak evidence linking it to enteral feeding intolerance (EFI), gastric emptying, aspiration, or ventilator-associated pneumonia. Thresholds defining high GRV vary widely (75–1200 ml). This scoping review aimed to: (1) identify GRV thresholds indicating feeding intolerance in adult ICU patients; and (2) describe GRV-related management practices. Methods: This review was conducted following the Population–Concept–Context (PCC) framework. A comprehensive search was performed in PubMed and Web of Science, extracting studies published in English and Vietnamese from 2010 to 2024. Studies were eligible if they were original research, trials, pre-and-post intervention study, and case reports/case series, and reported both GRV threshold and specific management strategies, while reviews or other studies that only had either GRV cutoff or its interventions were excluded. Results: Among 73 records for screening, 25 studies were eligible. Most involved hemodynamically stable, mechanically ventilated ICU patients receiving enteral nutrition (EN). GRV monitoring was typically performed every 4–6 h, with the cutoff ranging from 150 to 500 mL. Most studies used 200–250 mL as the most frequently used reference point. Some other studies combined GRV and clinical symptoms–such as nausea, vomiting, or distension–to determine intolerance. When GRV was below the lower threshold, feeding was typically continued or increased by 10–30 mL/h. Elevated GRV prompted various interventions, including temporary suspension of EN, prokinetic administration, or transition to post-pyloric nutrition. Conclusion: Most studies used 200–250 mL as a cautious GRV threshold for an early recognition of feeding intolerance, and the time to check GRV was normally every 4–6 h. Management of high GRV for lower thresholds tended to be less absolute, by reducing feeding rate and prescribing prokinetics, while stricter management was performed if GRV exceeded the higher GRV threshold.

Aims: This study aimed to assess the nutritional status of COVID‐19 patients within the first 24 h of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission and to determine its association with the risk of mechanical ventilation and mortality. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed electronic medical records from 342 COVID‐19 patients admitted to Hanoi Medical University Hospital, Vietnam, between September 2021 and April 2022. The Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria were applied to assess the risk of malnutrition. Results: According to the GLIM criteria, 77.8% of patients had moderate or severe malnutrition upon ICU admission. Compared with patients without malnutrition, those who were malnourished were significantly older ( p < 0.001) and had lower BMI, hemoglobin, and red blood cell counts ( p < 0.05). Univariate logistic regression analysis identified several factors associated with respiratory therapy and mortality among ICU COVID‐19 patients, including age, vaccination status, nutritional status, and BMI. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, malnutrition remained a significant predictor of clinical outcomes. The risk of requiring mechanical ventilation and death were 3.55‐fold and 2.03‐fold higher, respectively, in malnourished patients. Conclusion: The study revealed a high prevalence of malnutrition among ICU patients with COVID‐19. Furthermore, malnutrition was independently associated with an increased risk of mechanical ventilation and mortality. These findings underscored the importance of early nutritional screening and intervention as integral components of routine management for critically ill COVID‐19 patients.