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. 2021;14(5):543-549.
doi: 10.1159/000517851. Epub 2021 Sep 3.

Higher Levels of C-Reactive Protein and Ferritin in Patients with Overweight and Obesity and SARS-CoV-2-Related Pneumonia

Silvia Bettini  1   2 , Giovanni Bucca  2 , Caterina Sensi  2 , Chiara Dal Prà  2 , Roberto Fabris  2 , Roberto Vettor  1   2 , Luca Busetto  1   2
Affiliations

Higher Levels of C-Reactive Protein and Ferritin in Patients with Overweight and Obesity and SARS-CoV-2-Related Pneumonia

Silvia Bettini et al. Obes Facts. 2021.

Abstract

Introduction: Overweight and obesity are associated with a more severe COronaVirus Disease 19 (COVID-19). Adipose tissue-related chronic inflammation could be a promoter for the occurrence of the cytokine storm that predicts aggravation of COVID-19. The primary aim was to investigate if this increased risk for more severe COVID-19 was associated with a higher inflammatory response.

Methods: We enrolled patients <75 years old hospitalized in a medical COVID-19 ward with SARS-CoV-2-related pneumonia. Patients were classified according to BMI as normal weight, overweight, and obesity. Laboratory parameters were measured at admission and every second day during the hospital stay.

Results: Ninety patients (64.4% males; median age 61 years) were enrolled. Invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) was needed in 9% of the patients with normal weight, in 32.4% of the patients with overweight, and in 12.9% of the patients with obesity (p = 0.045). Maximal C-reactive protein (CRP) level during hospital stay was 92 (48-122) mg/L in patients with normal weight, 140 (82-265) mg/L in patients with overweight, and 117 (67-160) mg/L in patients with obesity (p = 0.037). Maximal ferritin values were 564 (403-1,379) μg/L in patients with a normal weight, 1,253 (754-2,532) μg/L in patients with overweight, and 828 (279-1,582) μg/L in patients with obesity (p = 0.015).

Conclusion: Patients with overweight and obesity required more IMV and had higher peaks of CRP and ferritin than patients with normal weight during COVID-19.

Keywords: C-reactive protein; Corona virus disease 19; Obesity; Overweight; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Levels at Ad and max during hospitalization for CRP (A, B) and ferritin (C, D) in 90 patients hospitalized for SARS-CoV-2 related pneumonia. Patients were divided according to BMI into patients with a normal weight (BMI <25 kg/m2) (white bar), overweight (25 kg/m2 ≤ BMI <30 kg/m2) (gray bar), and obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) (black bar). p value was determined by Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance on ranks. CRP, C-reactive protein; Ad, admission; max, maximal levels.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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