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Multicenter Study
. 2020 Jun 15;21(4):752-755.
doi: 10.5811/westjem.2020.5.47972.

In Young Adults with COVID-19, Obesity Is Associated with Adverse Outcomes

Eric Steinberg  1 , Ellsworth Wright  1 , Beth Kushner  1
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

In Young Adults with COVID-19, Obesity Is Associated with Adverse Outcomes

Eric Steinberg et al. West J Emerg Med. .

Abstract

Introduction: For patients with COVID-19, several characteristics have been identified that may be associated with adverse outcomes. However, there is a paucity of data regarding the effect of obesity on young adult patients with COVID-19. We sought to identify whether adverse outcomes are associated with obesity, particularly in COVID-19 patients 45 years and younger.

Methods: This was a two-center, retrospective cohort study that included 210 patients. Eligible patients were between the ages of 18-45 years old, had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction via nasopharyngeal swab, and were not pregnant. Primary outcomes were defined as follows: 1) in-hospital mortality during the study period; 2) need for mechanical ventilation; and 3) admission to the hospital. We analyzed baseline characteristics of the cohort using descriptive statistics. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated to assess associations between outcomes and obesity, defined as body mass index (BMI) >30.

Results: Of those patients who tested positive, 18 died during hospitalization (9%), 36 (17%) required mechanical ventilation, and 94 (45%) were admitted. Each of the primary outcomes was significantly associated with a BMI >30 (mortality OR = 6.29, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.76-22.46, p = 0.0046; mechanical ventilation OR = 6.01, 95% CI, 2.5-14.48, p = 0.0001; admission OR 2.61, 95% CI, 1.49-4.58, p =.0008).

Conclusion: Obesity appears to be an independent risk factor for poor outcomes in young patients with COVID-19. Future studies examining the clinical characteristics and risk factors of COVID-19 patients across large, diverse populations will strengthen our understanding of this novel and complex disease.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: By the WestJEM article submission agreement, all authors are required to disclose all affiliations, funding sources and financial or management relationships that could be perceived as potential sources of bias. No author has professional or financial relationships with any companies that are relevant to this study. There are no conflicts of interest or sources of funding to declare.

Figures

Figure
Figure
Odds ratio for BMI and primary outcomes. BMI, body mass index; OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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