Key result
Obesity is associated with a 46% higher risk of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2, a 113% higher risk of hospitalization, and a 48% higher risk of death due to COVID-19.
Why the study?
Obesity has emerged as an adverse prognostic marker in COVID-19, prompting the proposal of coronavirus disease-related cardiometabolic syndrome (CIRCS) across all disease stages.
Obesity acts as a severe adverse prognostic marker in COVID-19, necessitating aggressive management of cardiometabolic risk factors and the continued use of cardioprotective drugs like ACEi/ARBs and statins.
May warrant closer monitoring of obese patients with COVID-19; leaves open whether weight loss modifies infection risk or outcomes.
Recently, we face a surge in the fast-forward Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic with nearly 170 million confirmed cases and almost 3.5 million confirmed deaths at the end of May 2021. Obesity, also known as the pandemic of the 21st century, has been evolving as an adverse prognostic marker. Obesity is associated with a higher risk of being SARS-CoV-2-positive (46%), as well as hospitalization (113%) and death (48%) due to COVID-19. It is especially true for subjects with morbid obesity. Also, observational studies suggest that in the case of COVID-19, no favorable "obesity paradox" is observed. Therefore, it is postulated to introduce a new entity, i.e., coronavirus disease-related cardiometabolic syndrome (CIRCS). In theory, it applies to all stages of COVID-19, i.e., prevention, acute proceedings (from COVID-19 diagnosis to resolution or three months), and long-term outcomes. Consequently, lifestyle changes, glycemic control, and regulation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone pathway have crucial implications for preventing and managing subjects with COVID-19. Finally, it is crucial to use cardioprotective drugs such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor blockers and statins. Nevertheless, there is the need to conduct prospective studies and registries better to evaluate the issue of obesity in COVID-19 patients.
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Bil et al. (2021) conducted an editorial in COVID-19 and Obesity. Obesity vs. Normal weight was evaluated. Obesity is associated with a 46% higher risk of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2, a 113% higher risk of hospitalization, and a 48% higher risk of death due to COVID-19.
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