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Poor Metabolic Health Increases COVID-19-Related Mortality in the UK Biobank Sample

Filip Morys1, Alain Dagher1

  • 1Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.

Frontiers in Endocrinology
|April 12, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Individuals with poorer metabolic health, including high blood sugar, blood pressure, and waist circumference, face a higher risk of COVID-19 related death. This study highlights metabolic health as a key factor in COVID-19 outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Epidemiology
  • Metabolic Health
  • Infectious Disease

Background:

  • Obesity and metabolic dysfunction are linked to severe COVID-19 outcomes.
  • Existing research suggests a correlation between metabolic health components and COVID-19 severity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between metabolic health indicators and COVID-19 infection and mortality rates.
  • To determine if pre-existing metabolic health status predicts COVID-19 mortality.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of two UK Biobank samples (over 1,000 individuals).
  • Logistic regression controlling for socioeconomic status, age, sex, and ethnicity.
  • Metabolic health assessed via waist circumference, dyslipidemia, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and systemic inflammation (average 11 years prior to 2020).

Main Results:

  • Worse metabolic health was associated with an increased risk of COVID-19 related death (adjusted odds ratio: 1.75).
  • Elevated serum glucose, systolic blood pressure, and larger waist circumference were identified as specific factors contributing to increased mortality.

Conclusions:

  • Pre-existing metabolic health status is a significant predictor of COVID-19 mortality.
  • Public health strategies should consider metabolic health management for mitigating COVID-19 risks.

Keywords:
COVID-19diabetesdyslipidemiahypertensionobesity

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