A Time Frame for Testing Negative for SARS-COV2 in People with Obesity
Dror Dicker1,2, Shaul Lev3, Tamar Gottesman4
1Department of Internal Medicine D, Hasharon Hospital, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel, daniel3@013.net.
Obesity Facts
|September 29, 2020
Summary
Obesity increases COVID-19 severity and hospitalization duration. Patients with obesity experienced longer hospital stays, indicating a need for early intervention and testing for this demographic.
Area of Science:
- Medical Research
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Obesity is a significant risk factor for severe COVID-19 outcomes.
- Hospitalization duration for COVID-19 patients remains an area of clinical uncertainty.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and COVID-19 hospitalization length.
- To explore the impact of obesity on the clinical course of COVID-19.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 34 recovered COVID-19 patients.
- RT-PCR for viral gene detection (E, RdRP, N).
- Measurement of weight and self-reported height to determine BMI.
Main Results:
- Patients with BMI > 25 kg/m2 had longer hospital stays (19.2 days) compared to normal BMI (16.0 days, p=0.08).
- Obese patients (BMI > 30 kg/m2) showed a trend towards even longer stays (20.6 days, p=0.06).
- A correlation trend was observed between body weight and time to viral RNA detection.
Conclusions:
- Obesity is associated with prolonged hospitalization in COVID-19 patients.
- Early detection, testing, and therapy are crucial for COVID-19 patients with obesity.
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