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. 2021 Mar-Apr;15(2):172-176.
doi: 10.1016/j.orcp.2021.02.006. Epub 2021 Feb 25.

Association of obesity with illness severity in hospitalized patients with COVID-19: A retrospective cohort study

Suraj Suresh  1 , Mohammad Siddiqui  2 , Mouhanna Abu Ghanimeh  2 , Jessica Jou  2 , Stephen Simmer  2 , Vivek Mendiratta  2 , Sarah Russell  2 , Mustafa Al-Shammari  2 , Abigail Chatfield  3 , Eva Alsheik  2 , Duyen Dang  2 , Jeffrey Genaw  4 , Tobias Zuchelli  2
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Association of obesity with illness severity in hospitalized patients with COVID-19: A retrospective cohort study

Suraj Suresh et al. Obes Res Clin Pract. 2021 Mar-Apr.

Abstract

Background: Although recent studies have shown an association between obesity and adverse coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patient outcomes, there is a paucity in large studies focusing on hospitalized patients. We aimed to analyze outcomes associated with obesity in a large cohort of hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study at a tertiary care health system of adult patients with COVID-19 who were admitted between March 1 and April 30, 2020. Patients were stratified by body mass index (BMI) into obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m 2) and non-obese (BMI < 30 kg/m 2) cohorts. Primary outcomes were mortality, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, intubation, and 30-day readmission.

Results: A total of 1983 patients were included of whom 1031 (51.9%) had obesity and 952 (48.9%) did not have obesity. Patients with obesity were younger (P < 0.001), more likely to be female (P < 0.001) and African American (P < 0.001) compared to patients without obesity. Multivariable logistic models adjusting for differences in age, sex, race, medical comorbidities, and treatment modalities revealed no difference in 60-day mortality and 30-day readmission between obese and non-obese groups. In these models, patients with obesity had increased odds of ICU admission (adjusted OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.07-1.76; P = 0.012) and intubation (adjusted OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.04-1.80; P = 0.026).

Conclusions: Obesity in patients with COVID-19 is independently associated with increased risk for ICU admission and intubation. Recognizing that obesity impacts morbidity in this manner is crucial for appropriate management of COVID-19 patients.

Keywords: COVID-19; Coronavirus; Hospitalization; ICU; Mortality; Obesity.

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