Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 6, 2025
Author Spotlight: Assessing the Cardiovascular Profile of Patients with Metabolic Syndrome
Published on: September 27, 2024
COVID-19-related cardiovascular disease risk due to weight gain: a nationwide cohort study
Su Kyoung Lee1, Yohwan Lim2, Seogsong Jeong3
1Institute of Health and Environment, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
Insights
Weight gain during the COVID-19 pandemic increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk for all individuals. This includes those who contracted COVID-19 and those who did not, highlighting the importance of weight management.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of global morbidity and mortality.
- The increasing incidence of CVD, particularly post-acute COVID-19, necessitates further investigation.
- The impact of weight changes in COVID-19 patients on CVD risk remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between weight changes and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) following COVID-19 infection.
- To determine if COVID-19 patients experiencing weight gain are at a higher risk for CVD events.
- To analyze the relationship between weight control and CVD risk in the context of the pandemic.
Main Methods:
- A large cohort study involving 2,024,728 adults screened between 2017 and 2020.
- Analysis included 70,996 participants in the COVID-19 group and 212,869 in the control group.
- Cox proportional hazards regression was used to calculate the adjusted hazard ratio of Body Mass Index (BMI) change to CVD risk.
Main Results:
- A total of 2869 CVD cases were identified.
- COVID-19 patients with stable BMI showed a 2.28-fold increased risk of CVD compared to those with stable BMI.
- Non-COVID-19 patients with obesity also had a 1.58-fold higher risk of CVD.
Conclusions:
- Weight gain during the pandemic, irrespective of initial weight category, significantly elevates CVD risk.
- Individuals who gained weight post-pandemic faced a higher risk of CVD, particularly those with COVID-19.
- Maintaining a stable weight before and during the pandemic is crucial for mitigating CVD risk.
Background:
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality worldwide, with CVD and post-acute COVID-19 associated CVD increasing. It remains unknown whether COVID-19 patients with weight gain are at a high risk for CVD events. Therefore, the primary objective of this study is to investigate the association between weight control and the risk of CVD following COVID-19.
Methods:
The study included 2,024,728 adults who participated in two rounds of health screening between 2017 and 2020. The final cohort, which included 70,996 participants in the COVID-19 group and 212,869 participants in the control group. The adjusted hazard ratio of BMI change to CVD risk was calculated using Cox proportional hazards regression.
Results:
We identified a total of 2869 cases of CVD (861 events for COVID-19 group and 2,008 events for the control group). Compared to individuals with a stable BMI, COVID-19 patients without obesity had an increased risk of CVD (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 2.28; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15-4.53; p-value = 0.018). Additionally, non-COVID-19 patients with obesity also exhibited a higher risk of CVD (aHR = 1.58; 95% CI, 1.01-2.47; p-value = 0.046).
Conclusion:
In conclusion, people who gained weight during the pandemic, regardless of their weight category, had a significantly higher risk of CVD associated with COVID-19 compared to those who maintained their weight before the pandemic.
More Related Videos
07:51Hydra, a Computer-Based Platform for Aiding Clinicians in Cardiovascular Analysis and Diagnosis
Published on: September 26, 2018
13:07Optical Coherence Tomography Based Biomechanical Fluid-Structure Interaction Analysis of Coronary Atherosclerosis Progression
Published on: January 15, 2022
Related Concept Videos
01:27Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease
A key area of focus in PNI is the relationship between stress and coronary...
01:20Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System I: Cardiac Biomarkers
The essential diagnostic tools for detecting myocardial necrosis and monitoring individuals suspected of having acute coronary syndrome (ACS) include:
Troponins
Troponins, particularly cardiac troponins I and T, are the most precise and sensitive markers of myocardial injury. They are detectable within 4-6 hours of myocardial injury and remain...
01:29Bias in Epidemiological Studies
01:28Factors affecting Blood pressure
Physiological Factors:
01:19Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System II: CRP, Hcy, and Cardiac Natriuretic Peptide Markers
These markers indicate stress or strain on the heart muscle:
Natriuretic Peptides (BNP)
Cardiac myocytes produce these hormones in response to ventricular stretching...
01:20Exercise and Cardiovascular Response
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...