The Relationship Between Food Security and Dietary Patterns Status with COVID-19 in Northeastern Iran: Protocol for a Case-Control Study

Food insecurity is described as the inability or uncertainty of having enough food to live an active and healthy life regularly. Coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) is a highly contagious viral infection that is associated with a high mortality rate due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and/or severe pneumonia.

The current research aims to compare food security and dietary patterns with the possibility of developing COVID-19 symptoms in recently improved patients and non-infected cases.

This case-control study will be conducted on the men and women aged 20-60 years improved from COVID-19 infection. The cases (n=124) and controls (n=124) were selected according to the eligibility criteria, including recently improved COVID-19 according to the positive COVID-19 PCR test. The groups are matched for age, sex, and body mass index (BMI). The assessments will include anthropometric measurements and general demographic, USDA 18-item food security (18item-FSSM), and 147-item food frequency (FFQ) questionnaires.

This study received approval from the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. Participation is free, and a patient can withdraw at whatever point the person feels they are unable to continue. There is no bar to receiving the other health care services of the center.

This study would be the first assessment of the relationship between food security and dietary patterns status with COVID-19 disease. It may help planners and policymakers manage food insecurity and unhealthy dietary patterns and later increase the immune system and decrease the incidence of COVID-19.