Excessive eating and weight gain:A rare post-acute COVID-19 syndrome

Abstract

The coronavirus disease - 2019 (COVID-19) is a multisystem illness associated with several metabolic derangements. Studies report that post-acute COVID-19 syndromes (PACs) continue to evolve, however, polyphagia is not uncommon. Herein, we report a rare occurrence of polyphagia in a patient following acute COVID-19 illness. A-41-year-old Ugandan female with a negative past medical history presented with complains of excessive appetite, eating large amounts of food, inability to feel satisfied, failure to control desire to eat, and weight gain 6 months following recovery from a mild episode of acute COVID-19 pneumonia. Her body mass index rose to 30 Kg/m 2 from 22 Kg/m 2 prior to suffering from COVID-19. There was no history of polyuria, polydipsia, pruritus, or prior eating disorder or related history. Investigation found that brain computed tomography scan was normal, fasting blood sugar to be 5.6 mmol/L (normal range, 3.9–7.0 mmol/L), adrenocorticotropin hormone level to be 8.763 pg/mL (normal range, 6–40 pg/mL), erythrocyte sedimentation rate to be 12 mm/hour (0–30 mm/hour), but there was an elevation in glycosylated hemoglobin level (HbA 1c, 7.7%). She was commenced on psychotherapy and behavioral changes with good outcomes. Polyphagia may be one of the rare PACs, requiring further research.

Eating Habits and Body Weight Changes Induced by Variation in Smell and Taste in Patients with Previous SARS-CoV-2 Infection

“…However, some evidence of weight gain has been reported. Kaggwa et al [ 68 ] reported a case of severe polyphagia that led to excessive weight gain (BMI rose to from 22 kg/m 2 to 30 kg/m 2 ) in a 41-year-old female with post-acute COVID-19 syndrome. After a mild episode of acute COVID-19 pneumonia, the patient with a negative past medical history experienced increased appetite and the inability to be satisfied and failed to control their food craving.…”

Reducing fatigue-related symptoms in Long COVID-19: a preliminary report of a lymphatic drainage intervention

“…Any intervention that can improve energy and activity levels in people with Long COVID will have health benefits in terms of reduction in cardiometabolic risk, given the potential for Long COVID to lead to weight gain [ 14 ].…”

Counter-regulatory renin-angiotensin system in hypertension: Review and update in the era of COVID-19 pandemic

“…The cardiometabolic complications of Long COVID have been reported widely [294] , [295] , [296] , [297] , [298] , [299] , [300] , [301] , [302] , [303] , [304] , [305] , [306] , [307] . We mechanistically investigated that COVID-19 induces new-onset metabolic disorders and found that SARS-CoV-2 infection modulated several secreted metabolic factors contributing to the perturbation of glucose and lipid metabolism [308] , [309] .…”