Key result
High BMI linked to ~135% higher odds of developing long COVID.
Why the study?
Are metabolic risk factors associated with the risk of developing long COVID in individuals with prior COVID-19?
Cross-Sectional (n=990)
Are metabolic risk factors associated with the risk of developing long COVID in individuals with prior COVID-19?
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
High BMI is significantly associated with an increased risk of developing long COVID, adding to the evidence on its etiology.
AIM: To describe the association between metabolic risk factors and the risk of developing long COVID in Aotearoa New Zealand. METHODS: Individuals aged 16 years and above who had confirmed or probable COVID-19 before December 2021 were eligible for inclusion. Metabolic risk factors were high body mass index (BMI, ≥25kg/m2), high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Logistic regression was used to estimate the association between metabolic risk factors and long COVID. RESULTS: Of the 990 survey respondents, 21.9% met the definition of long COVID. After adjusting for socio-demographic factors, COVID-19 vaccination and hospitalisation, high BMI was strongly associated with long COVID (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.35; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.33-4.17, p=0.003). There was a suggestion of an association between heart disease and long COVID (aOR 4.31; 95% CI 0.80-23.3, p=0.090). No other metabolic factors were associated with long COVID. Among Māori, no associations were found between high BMI and long COVID compared with underweight/normal BMI. CONCLUSION: High BMI as a risk factor adds to accumulating evidence on the aetiology of long COVID.
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Yee et al. (2025) conducted a cross-sectional in Long COVID (n=990). High BMI (≥25kg/m2) vs. Underweight/normal BMI was evaluated on Long COVID (aOR 2.35, 95% CI 1.33-4.17, p=0.003). High BMI (≥25kg/m2) was strongly associated with developing long COVID (aOR 2.35; 95% CI 1.33-4.17; p=0.003) after adjusting for socio-demographics, vaccination, and hospitalization.