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Is excess weight a risk factor for the development of COVID 19 infection? A preliminary report from India
Piyush Ranjan1, Arvind Kumar1, Souradeep Chowdhury1
1Department of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India.
Insights
Higher Body Mass Index (BMI) is linked to increased odds of testing positive for COVID-19. This study found a dose-response relationship, indicating greater risk with higher BMI in adults.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Obesity is a growing global health concern.
- The association between Body Mass Index (BMI) and COVID-19 infection risk requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the relationship between BMI and COVID-19 positive status.
- To determine if higher BMI correlates with increased odds of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Main Methods:
- A phone-based survey collected height and weight data from 379 adult patients at a New Delhi hospital.
- COVID-19 RT-PCR results were retrieved from the hospital information system.
- Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated for all participants.
Main Results:
- Individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 had a higher mean BMI and prevalence of obesity compared to negative cases.
- An increase in BMI above 23 kg/m² was associated with an 80% higher likelihood of being COVID-19 positive.
- A dose-response association was observed between BMI and COVID-19 positivity.
Conclusions:
- Elevated BMI is associated with increased odds of COVID-19 infection.
- Excess weight, indicated by higher BMI, may contribute to greater susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2.
- Public health strategies should consider the role of obesity in COVID-19 outcomes.
Background And Aim:
This study explored the association between BMI and COVID-19 positive status in a tertiary care hospital from New Delhi.
Methods:
Three hundred and seventy nine adult patients who presented to COVID-19 screening outpatient department of the hospital were interviewed over the phone regarding their body weight and height. The COVID-19 RT-PCR report of the patients was extracted from the hospital information system.
Results:
The mean BMI and the prevalence of obesity was observed to be higher in individuals who were detected to be COVID-19 RT-PCR positive as compared to those who were negative. With every one-unit increment in BMI above 23 kg/m2, the odds of being COVID-19 positive increased by 1.8 times among these patients.
Conclusion:
The findings suggest a dose-response association between BMI and the odds of COVID-19 infection in individuals with excess weight.
