Obesity and COVID-19 in Adult Patients With Diabetes
Peihua Cao1,2, Ying Song3,4, Zian Zhuang5
1Clinical Research Center, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Insights
Obesity increases the risk of severe outcomes in COVID-19 patients, including severe pneumonia and need for oxygen therapy. This risk is higher for men, older adults, and individuals with diabetes.
Area of Science:
- Medical Science
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Obesity is a prevalent comorbidity associated with severe COVID-19.
- Diabetes and obesity may exacerbate COVID-19 severity through immune dysfunction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between obesity and severe outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
- To assess the impact of obesity on severe pneumonia and oxygen therapy requirements.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study of 1,637 adult COVID-19 patients in Wuhan, China.
- Propensity score-matched logistic regression analysis.
- Adjusted for age, sex, and comorbidities.
Main Results:
- Obesity was significantly associated with higher odds of severe pneumonia (OR 1.47) and oxygen therapy (OR 1.40).
- Increased risks were more pronounced in men, older adults, and patients with diabetes.
- A dose-response relationship between BMI and severe outcomes was observed.
Conclusions:
- Obesity is an independent risk factor for severe COVID-19 outcomes.
- Findings highlight the importance of managing obesity in COVID-19 patients.
- Specific risk patterns were noted for patients with diabetes.
Abstract:
Obesity has caused wide concerns due to its high prevalence in patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Coexistence of diabetes and obesity could cause an even higher risk of severe outcomes due to immunity dysfunction. We conducted a retrospective study in 1,637 adult patients who were admitted into an acute hospital in Wuhan, China. Propensity score-matched logistic regression was used to estimate the risks of severe pneumonia and requiring in-hospital oxygen therapy associated with obesity. After adjustment for age, sex, and comorbidities, obesity was significantly associated with higher odds of severe pneumonia (odds ratio [OR] 1.47 [95% CI 1.15-1.88]; P = 0.002) and oxygen therapy (OR 1.40 [95% CI 1.10-1.79]; P = 0.007). Higher ORs of severe pneumonia due to obesity were observed in men, older adults, and those with diabetes. Among patients with diabetes, overweight increased the odds of requiring in-hospital oxygen therapy by 0.68 times (P = 0.014) and obesity increased the odds by 1.06 times (P = 0.028). A linear dose-response curve between BMI and severe outcomes was observed in all patients, whereas a U-shaped curve was observed in those with diabetes. Our findings provide important evidence to support obesity as an independent risk factor for severe outcomes of COVID-19 infection in the early phase of the ongoing pandemic.
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