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. 2022 May 21;11(10):2916.
doi: 10.3390/jcm11102916.

Characterization and Outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Overweight and Obese Patients: A Dynamic Comparison of COVID-19 Pandemic Waves

Roxana Manuela Fericean  1   2 , Cosmin Citu  3 , Diana Manolescu  4 , Ovidiu Rosca  5 , Felix Bratosin  5 , Emanuela Tudorache  6 , Cristian Oancea  6
Affiliations

Characterization and Outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Overweight and Obese Patients: A Dynamic Comparison of COVID-19 Pandemic Waves

Roxana Manuela Fericean et al. J Clin Med. .

Abstract

There are few data on the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 viral manifestations in obese and overweight persons during each of the five waves that occurred in Romania during the last two years. As such, the purpose of this research was to characterize the variance in case severity, symptomatology, ICU hospitalizations, and mortality among overweight and obese individuals infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. We included 250 overweight and obese patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19, where 50 patients were selected from each of the five pandemic waves that existed in Romania until March 2022. A total of 113 patients with normal body mass index were included in the study. They were matched with overweight and obese patients by age, gender, and cardiovascular comorbidities to avoid the effect of confounding factors. Between the five waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in Romania, the present investigation found substantial changes in overweight and obese patient features. Obesity increases the risk of hospitalization, severe complications, and mortality from COVID-19. However, this unique demographic is disproportionately affected by obesity-related comorbidities, which contribute to these adverse outcomes. We advocate for the development of new guiding principles for the formulation of healthcare strategies aimed at high-prevalence special populations such as overweight and obese individuals, while also promoting pandemic containment and avoiding the recurrence of pandemic waves with the same guidelines that proved detrimental in terms of economic and human life loss.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2 infection; disease severity; obesity; overweight.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(a,b) Dynamic comparison of ICU admissions and mortality in overweight and obese patients with COVID-19.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Multivariate risk factor analysis for ICU admission and mortality in normal weight and overweight/obese patients with COVID-19.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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