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. 2023 May 26:14:1146517.
doi: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1146517. eCollection 2023.

Clinical and economic impact of COVID-19 on people with obesity in a Spanish cohort during the first pandemic peak

Torrego-Ellacuría M  1   2 , Rubio-Herrera Ma  2   3 , González López-Valcárcel B  4 , Fuentes-Ferrer Me  5   6 , Martín V  7 , Poyato F  8 , Barber-Pérez P  4 , Santucci C  4   9 , Nuñez A  10 , González-Pérez C  1   11 , Luaces M  1
Affiliations

Clinical and economic impact of COVID-19 on people with obesity in a Spanish cohort during the first pandemic peak

Torrego-Ellacuría M et al. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). .

Abstract

Introduction: COVID-19 and obesity relationship has been extensively studied since the COVID-19 outbreak, proving obesity is a risk factor. This study aims to broaden the available information about this association and to evaluate the economic impact of obesity and the COVID-19 disease combination.

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed a sample of 3,402 patients admitted to a Spanish hospital with available body mass index (BMI) data.

Results: The prevalence of obesity was 33.4%. Patients with obesity showed a higher risk of hospitalization (OR 95% ConfidenceInterval [CI]=1.46; [1.24-1.73]; p < 0.001), which increased with the obesity degree (I: OR [95% CI]=1.28 [1.06-1.55], p =0.010; II: OR [95% CI]=1.58 [1.16-2.15], p =0.004; III: OR [95% CI] =2.09 [1.31-3.34], p =0.002). Patients with type III obesity had a significantly higher risk of intensive care unit (ICU) admission (OR [95% CI]= 3.30 [1.67-6.53]; p = 0.001) and invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) need (OR [95% CI]= 3.98 [2.00-7.94]; p<0.001). The average cost per patient was remarkably higher in patients with obesity (p = 0.007), reaching an excess cost of 28.41% in the study cohort and rising to 56.5% in patients < 70 years. The average cost per patient increased significantly with the degree of obesity (p = 0.007).

Discussion: In conclusion, our results suggest a strong association between obesity and adverse COVID-19 outcomes and higher expenditures in patients with both conditions.

Keywords: COVID-19; diabetes mellitus; economic burden; intensive care unit (ICU); invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV); obesity; obesity comorbidities.

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Conflict of interest statement

R-HM reports professional fees from Novo Nordisk, outside the submitted work. MV and PF are employees of Novo Nordisk. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Patient inclusion flowchart.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Obesity and obesity-related comorbidities prevalence (N=3,402). (A) Individual obesity and obesity-related comorbidities prevalence. (B) Combined obesity and obesity-related comorbidities prevalence.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Average cost per patient according to BMI categories (N=3,371).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Average cost per patient according to number of comorbidities (N=3,402).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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