Background Obesity is an epidemic in New York City, the global epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic. Previous studies suggest that obesity is a possible risk factor for adverse outcomes in COVID-19. Objective To elucidate the association between obesity and COVID-19 outcomes. Design Retrospective cohort study of COVID-19 hospitalized patients tested between March 10 and April 13, 2020. Setting SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, a COVID-only hospital in New York. Participants In total, 684 patients were tested for COVID-19 and 504 were analyzed. Patients were categorized into three groups by BMI: normal (BMI 18.50–24.99), overweight (BMI 25.00–29.99), and obese (BMI ≥ 30.00). Measurements Primary outcome was 30-day in-hospital mortality, and secondary outcomes were intubation, acute kidney injury (AKI), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and acute cardiac injury (ACI). Results There were 139 patients (27%) with normal BMI, 150 patients who were overweight (30%), and 215 patients with obesity (43%). After controlling for age, gender, diabetes, hypertension, and qSOFA score, there was a significantly increased risk of mortality in the overweight (RR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1–1.9) and obese groups (RR 1.3, 95% CI 1.0–1.7) compared with those with normal BMI. Similarly, there was a significantly increased relative risk for intubation in the overweight (RR 2.0, 95% CI 1.2–3.3) and obese groups (RR 2.4, 95% CI 1.5–4.0) compared with those with normal BMI. Obesity did not affect rates of AKI, ACI, or ARDS. Furthermore, obesity appears to significantly increase the risk of mortality in males (RR 1.4, 95% CI 1.0-2.0, P = 0.03), but not in females (RR 1.2, 95% CI 0.77–1.9, P = 0.40). Conclusion This study reveals that patients with overweight and obesity who have COVID-19 are at increased risk for mortality and intubation compared to those with normal BMI. These findings support the hypothesis that obesity is a risk factor for COVID-19 complications and should be a consideration in management of COVID-19.

Importance: Initial guidelines recommended prompt endotracheal intubation rather than non-invasive ventilation (NIV) for COVID-19 patients requiring ventilator support. There is insufficient data comparing the impact of intubation versus NIV on patient-centered outcomes of these patients. Objective: To compare all-cause 30-day mortality for hospitalized COVID-19 patients with respiratory failure who underwent intubation first, intubation after NIV, or NIV only. Design: Retrospective study of patients admitted in March and April of 2020. Setting: A teaching hospital in Brooklyn, New York City. Participants: Adult COVID-19 confirmed patients who required ventilator support (non-invasive ventilation and/ or endotracheal intubation) at discretion of treating physician, were included. Exposures: Patients were categorized into three exposure groups: intubation-first, intubation after NIV, or NIV-only. Primary outcome: 30-day all-cause mortality, a predetermined outcome measured by multivariable logistic regression. Data are presented with medians and interquartile ranges, or percentages with 95% confidence intervals, for continuous and categorical variables, respectively. Covariates for the model were age, sex, qSOFA score ≥ 2, presenting oxygen saturation, vasopressor use, and greater than three comorbidities. A secondary multivariable model compared mortality of all patients that received NIV (intubation after NIV and NIV-only) with the intubation-first group. Results: A total of 222 were enrolled. Overall mortality was 77.5% (95%CI, 72-83%). Mortality for intubation-first group was 82% (95%CI, 73-89%; 75/91), for Intubation after NIV was 84% (95%CI, 70-92%; 37/44), and for NIVonly was 69% (95%CI, 59-78%; 60/87). In multivariable analysis, NIV-only was associated with decreased all-cause mortality (odds ratio [OR]: 0.30, 95%CI, 0.13-0.69). No difference in mortality was observed between intubationfirst and intubation after NIV. Secondary analysis found all patients who received NIV to have lower mortality than patients who were intubated only (OR: 0.44, 95%CI, 0.21-0.95). Conclusions & Relevance: Utilization of NIV as the initial intervention in COVID-19 patients requiring ventilatory support is associated with significant survival benefit. For patients intubated after NIV, the mortality rate is not worse than those who undergo intubation as their initial intervention.

Aims: To establish the frequency and risk factors for visual loss in a primary referral cohort of hospital patients with uveitis. Methods: 561 consecutive uveitis patients attending three district hospitals were recruited and the acuity at the end of the study period recorded. A retrospective case-control study of risk factors for visual loss (permanent loss of acuity ,6/9) was performed. Risk factors examined included type of uveitis, age at onset of uveitis, race, type of systemic inflammatory disease, length of follow up, and treatment variables. Results: Visual loss of at least 6/12 in one eye was found in 111 patients (19.9%). Only four patients (0.7%) suffered severe bilateral visual loss (6/36 or less). Visual loss was associated with age at onset .60 years (odds ratio 3.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.2 to 7.0, long follow up 2.0 (1.2 to 3.3) and a history of cataract surgery 3.9 (2.1 to 7.2). It was less likely in patients with acute anterior uveitis 0.2 (0.1 to 0.3). Conclusion: The frequency of visual loss associated with uveitis in a district hospital cohort is less than that found in referral centres and levels of legal blindness are low. Although acute anterior uveitis has a low frequency of visual loss it contributes significantly to the total burden. The ocular co-morbidity of the elderly may contribute to the increased visual loss of late onset uveitis.T he main sight threatening complications of uveitis are cataract formation, glaucoma, and maculopathy; these complications also have an increasing prevalence in the normal elderly population.1 The aetiologies of uveitis change with age and children aged less than 10 years have a very different range of diagnoses and complications compared to the adult uveitis population.2 3 There is little information on the relation of increasing age of onset to the prevalence of complications in the adult uveitis population apart from a reported decrease in prevalence of intermediate uveitis and an increase in secondary ocular hypertension.

Objectives To determine whether altered mental status (AMS) as a presenting symptom in older adults with COVID-19 is independently associated with adverse outcomes. Methods A retrospective single center observational study of admitted patients (n= 421) age ≥ 60 and a positive COVID-19 test. Outcomes included mortality, intubation, acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute kidney injury, and acute cardiac injury. Multivariate regression analysis was used to determine if presenting with AMS was associated with adverse outcomes. Results There was an increased risk of mortality (RR 1.29, 95% CI 1.05-1.57), intubation (RR 1.52, 95% CI 1.09-2.12) and AKI (RR 1.42, 95% CI 1.13 - 1.78) in patients that presented with AMS. Conclusions During a global pandemic, prognostic indicators are vital to help guide the clinical course of patients, reduce healthcare cost, and preserve life. Our study suggests that AMS can play a major role in diagnostic algorithms in older adults with COVID-19.