Obese People More at Risk for Severe Covid-19

Highlights:

Obese or overweight people more likely to develop severe Covid-19 complications
They require oxygen more frequently and invasive mechanical ventilation
However, there is no increased risk of death for people with obesity

Covid-19 patients who are overweight or obese with a higher BMI are at greater risk for severe infection they require more oxygen and invasive mechanical ventilation. //

There is no increased risk of death. These conclusions, for which more than 7,000 patients were studied, appear from international research in eleven countries, including the Netherlands (Radboud university medical center).

Ancient Wisdom: Diet to Build Your Immune System and Fight Covid-19
Eating a well-balanced diet tends to be healthier and makes your immune system stronger. It also helps lower the risk of chronic illnesses and infectious diseases.

‘Overweight and obesity are characterized by chronic inflammation, which can perhaps lead to increased susceptibility to viruses. Also, they are more likely to suffer from shortness of breath, which may lead to an increased need for ventilation.’

Tweet it Now

The study, led by Australian researchers, examined over 7000 patients from eleven different countries who were admitted to 18 hospitals. Of this group, over a third (34.8%) were overweight and almost a third (30.8%) were obese.

COVID-19 patients with obesity required oxygen more frequently and were 73% more likely to require invasive mechanical ventilation. Remarkably, no greater mortality was observed in these groups of patients than in patients of healthy weight.

The international results have now been published in scientific journal Diabetes Care.

New Types of COVID-19-associated Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Discovered
One-fourth of patients hospitalized for the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) associated with severe COVID-19 infections are prone to distinct disease presentation.

Immunologist Siroon Bekkering of Radboud university medical center, principal investigator of the Dutch part, explains that never before so many different data on obesity have been combined in one large study.

"Several national and international observations already showed the important role of overweight and obesity in a more severe COVID-19 course. This study adds to those observations by combining data from several countries with the possibility to look at the risk factors separately. Regardless of other risk factors (such as heart disease or diabetes), we now see that too high a BMI can actually lead to a more severe course in corona infection."

COVID-19 in Combination With Stroke Doubles Death Risk
COVID-19 in combination with hemorrhagic stroke increases death risk up to 2.4 times, revealed a study.

One explanation for this is that overweight and obesity are characterized by chronic inflammation, which can perhaps lead to increased susceptibility to viruses. This is also the case with the flu virus. Also, obese people are more likely to suffer from shortness of breath, which may lead to an increased need for ventilation.

Different Risk Factors for Severe COVID-19 Infection

Air Pollution Linked to Severity in COVID-19 Patients
Patients with asthma and COPD and live in areas with high levels of air pollution have an increased chance of hospitalization if they contract COVID-19.

More risk factors emerge from the study. For example, this study, similar to other international studies, confirms that men are more likely to have a more severe course of COVID-19 infection.

In addition, this study also shows that people older than 65 years of age needed supplemental oxygen more often and are at greater risk of death.

Cardiovascular disease and pre-existing respiratory disease may be associated with an increased risk of in-hospital death, but not with an increased risk of using oxygen and mechanical ventilation.

For patients with diabetes, there was an increased risk of needing invasive respiratory support, but no additional increase in risk in those with both obesity and diabetes. There was no increased risk of death.

Source-Eurekalert