The Relationship Between Nutritional Status Control (CONUT) Score and Mortality in COVID-19 Infection

Hüseyin Özkök; Şeyma Şenocak; Özlem Aktürk; Ahmed Cihad Genç; Deniz Çekiç; Yusuf Durmaz; Ahmed Bilal Genç; Selçuk Yaylacı

doi:10.56016/dahudermj.1737156

EN

The Relationship Between Nutritional Status Control (CONUT) Score and Mortality in COVID-19 Infection

Abstract

Background: COVID-19, a transmissible disease, has prompted global emergency responses and contributed to widespread outbreaks. Nutritional status is critical in infection defense, as malnutrition elevates risk and mortality. The Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score assesses nutritional health and prognosis. This study investigates the association between the CONUT score and mortality in COVID-19 patients. Methods: Medical records of 502 COVID-19 patients over 18 at Sakarya University Hospital’s ICU from January to December 2021 were reviewed. Data included demographics, comorbidities, laboratory results, ICU interventions, and mortality. Nutritional status was assessed using the CONUT score based on serum albumin, cholesterol, and lymphocyte counts, ranging from 0 to 12, with classifications for normal to severe malnutrition. Chi-square tests were used to compare categorical variables between two groups. Results: The study comprised 502 COVID-19 patients, with a 34.6% survival rate. Mean age was 69.9±14.4 years. The length of ICU stay differed significantly between survivors and non-survivors (p = 0.013). Albumin levels were significantly lower in the non-survivors (p=0.002). Vasoactive infusion, inotropes, APACHE-II, and SOFA scores were significantly higher in non-survivors (p < 0.001). Mortality risk was significantly higher for vasopressor infusion, endotracheal intubation, and non-invasive ventilatory support (p<0.001). The CONUT score showed significant differences between survivors and non-survivors (p < 0.001), particularly between mild and moderate/severe malnutrition (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The CONUT score allows for early prognosis prediction in patients, enabling the treatment course to be tailored accordingly.

Keywords

Albumin, COVID-19, Lymphopenia, Malnutrition, Prognosis

Ethical Statement

Sakarya University Ethics Committee granted ethical approval for the study (Date: 25.03.2023, Decision No: 116).

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Internal Diseases

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Hüseyin Özkök ^*
0000-0001-9948-4233
Türkiye

Şeyma Şenocak
0009-0003-7756-324X
Türkiye

Özlem Aktürk
0009-0008-9747-1082
Türkiye

Ahmed Cihad Genç
0000-0002-7725-707X
Türkiye

Deniz Çekiç
0000-0002-7114-9334
Türkiye

Yusuf Durmaz
0000-0002-3455-2722
Türkiye

Ahmed Bilal Genç
0000-0002-1607-6355
Türkiye

Selçuk Yaylacı
0000-0002-6768-7973
Türkiye

Early Pub Date

October 28, 2025

Publication Date

November 13, 2025

Submission Date

July 8, 2025

Acceptance Date

October 19, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 5 Number: 4

DOI

https://doi.org/10.56016/dahudermj.1737156

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA86ER33JU

APA

Özkök, H., Şenocak, Ş., Aktürk, Ö., Genç, A. C., Çekiç, D., Durmaz, Y., Genç, A. B., & Yaylacı, S. (2025). The Relationship Between Nutritional Status Control (CONUT) Score and Mortality in COVID-19 Infection. DAHUDER Medical Journal, 5(4), 113-120. https://doi.org/10.56016/dahudermj.1737156

AMA

1.Özkök H, Şenocak Ş, Aktürk Ö, et al. The Relationship Between Nutritional Status Control (CONUT) Score and Mortality in COVID-19 Infection. DAHUDER MJ. 2025;5(4):113-120. doi:10.56016/dahudermj.1737156

Chicago

Özkök, Hüseyin, Şeyma Şenocak, Özlem Aktürk, et al. 2025. “The Relationship Between Nutritional Status Control (CONUT) Score and Mortality in COVID-19 Infection”. DAHUDER Medical Journal 5 (4): 113-20. https://doi.org/10.56016/dahudermj.1737156.

EndNote

Özkök H, Şenocak Ş, Aktürk Ö, Genç AC, Çekiç D, Durmaz Y, Genç AB, Yaylacı S (November 1, 2025) The Relationship Between Nutritional Status Control (CONUT) Score and Mortality in COVID-19 Infection. DAHUDER Medical Journal 5 4 113–120.

IEEE

[1]H. Özkök et al., “The Relationship Between Nutritional Status Control (CONUT) Score and Mortality in COVID-19 Infection”, DAHUDER MJ, vol. 5, no. 4, pp. 113–120, Nov. 2025, doi: 10.56016/dahudermj.1737156.

ISNAD

Özkök, Hüseyin - Şenocak, Şeyma - Aktürk, Özlem - Genç, Ahmed Cihad - Çekiç, Deniz - Durmaz, Yusuf - Genç, Ahmed Bilal - Yaylacı, Selçuk. “The Relationship Between Nutritional Status Control (CONUT) Score and Mortality in COVID-19 Infection”. DAHUDER Medical Journal 5/4 (November 1, 2025): 113-120. https://doi.org/10.56016/dahudermj.1737156.

JAMA

1.Özkök H, Şenocak Ş, Aktürk Ö, Genç AC, Çekiç D, Durmaz Y, Genç AB, Yaylacı S. The Relationship Between Nutritional Status Control (CONUT) Score and Mortality in COVID-19 Infection. DAHUDER MJ. 2025;5:113–120.

MLA

Özkök, Hüseyin, et al. “The Relationship Between Nutritional Status Control (CONUT) Score and Mortality in COVID-19 Infection”. DAHUDER Medical Journal, vol. 5, no. 4, Nov. 2025, pp. 113-20, doi:10.56016/dahudermj.1737156.

Vancouver

1.Hüseyin Özkök, Şeyma Şenocak, Özlem Aktürk, Ahmed Cihad Genç, Deniz Çekiç, Yusuf Durmaz, Ahmed Bilal Genç, Selçuk Yaylacı. The Relationship Between Nutritional Status Control (CONUT) Score and Mortality in COVID-19 Infection. DAHUDER MJ. 2025 Nov. 1;5(4):113-20. doi:10.56016/dahudermj.1737156