The Role of Obesity in Predicting the Clinical Outcomes of COVID-19

Abstract

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> The aim of this was to describe the predictors of mortality related to COVID-19 infection and to evaluate the association between overweight, obesity, and clinical outcomes of COVID-19. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We included the patients >18 years of age, with at least one positive SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Patients were grouped according to body mass index values as normal weight <25 kg/m<sup>2</sup> (Group A), overweight from 25 to <30 kg/m<sup>2</sup> (Group B), Class I obesity 30 to <35 kg/m<sup>2</sup> (Group C), and ≥35 kg/m<sup>2</sup> (Group D). Mortality, clinical outcomes, laboratory parameters, and comorbidities were compared among 4 groups. <b><i>Results:</i></b> There was no significant difference among study groups in terms of mortality. Noninvasive mechanical ventilation requirement was higher in group B and D than group A, while it was higher in Group D than Group C (Group B vs. Group A [<i>p</i> = 0.017], Group D vs. Group A [<i>p</i> = 0.001], and Group D vs. Group C [<i>p</i> = 0.016]). Lung involvement was less common in Group A, and presence of hypoxia was more common in Group D (Group B vs. Group A [<i>p</i> = 0.025], Group D vs. Group A [<i>p</i> < 0.001], Group D vs. Group B [<i>p</i> = 0.006], and Group D vs. Group C [<i>p</i> = 0.014]). The hospitalization rate was lower in Group A than in the other groups; in addition, patients in Group D have the highest rate of hospitalization (Group B vs. Group A [<i>p</i> < 0.001], Group C vs. Group A [<i>p</i> < 0.001], Group D vs. Group A [<i>p</i> < 0.001], Group D vs. Group B [<i>p</i> < 0.001], and Group D vs. Group C [<i>p</i> = 0.010]). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> COVID-19 patients with overweight and obesity presented with more severe clinical findings. Health-care providers should take into account that people living with overweight and obesity are at higher risk for COVID-19 and its complications.

Association of obesity with the clinical severity of COVID-19 among hospitalized patients in a tertiary care hospital in Bangladesh

“…This result was consistent with Simonnet et al, Kalligeros et al, and Sahin et al study. 1,18,19 Abdominal obesity or central obesity is assessed by waist circumference. COVID-19 severity is also associated with abdominal adipose tissue distribution.…”

Relationship between Metabolic Syndrome Components and COVID-19 Disease Severity in Hospitalized Patients: A Pilot Study

“…In this single-center prospective study, patients with severe and moderate COVID-19 disease were found to have similar BMI values below 30 kg/m2. Sahin et al showed that obese patients with BMI ≥35 kg/m2 had higher lung involvement rates and required longer noninvasive mechanical ventilation than overweight patients [ 35 ]. While several studies evaluated the impact of obesity on COVID-19 morbidity and mortality, the clinical course of overweight patients and various degrees of obesity have not been involved in meta-analysis.…”

Hubungan Indeks Massa Tubuh dengan Keparahan dan Mortalitas Pasien Covid-19

“…Meningkatnya IMT atau obesitas merupakan salah satu masalah kesehatan yang harus menjadi perhatian khusus saat kondisi pandemi, karena kondisi tersebut dikaitkan dengan faktor risiko yang dapat mempengaruhi kondisi klinis yaitu memperparah kondisi hingga kematian pada pasien Corona Virus Disease (Covid-19) (Adimara, et al, 2021;Aqmarina, et al, 2021;Plourdei, et al, 2021;Sahin, et al, 2021). Obesitas dapat memengaruhi tingkat keparahan Covid-19 berdasarkan beberapa mekanisme termasuk ketidaknormalan ventilasi paru, peradangan kronis, gangguan sistem imun, disfungsi endotel, efek biologis lokal dari ektopik disposisi lemak dalam jaringan visceral dan koagulasi (Dana, et al, 2021).…”