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Evaluating the association of body mass index with COVID-19 severity and mortality using Japanese administrative

Waki Imoto1, Yasutaka Ihara2, Takumi Imai2

  • 1Department of Infection Control Science, Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-4-3, Asahi-machi, Abeno-ku, Osaka, 545-8585, Japan; Department of Infectious Disease Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University Hospital, 1-5-7 Asahi-machi, Abeno-ku, Osaka, 545-8586, Japan; Department of Infection Control and Prevention, Osaka Metropolitan University Hospital, 1-5-7 Asahi-machi, Abeno-ku, Osaka, 545-8586, Japan; Research Center for Infectious Disease Sciences (RCIDS), Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-4-3, Asahi-machi, Abeno-ku, Osaka, 545-8585, Japan; Osaka International Research for Infectious Diseases (OIRCID), Osaka Metropolitan University, 1-2-7-601, Asahi-machi, Abeno-ku, Osaka, 545-0051, Japan.

Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy : Official Journal of the Japan Society of Chemotherapy
|April 18, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Higher Body Mass Index (BMI) worsens COVID-19 severity. However, both underweight and obesity increase mortality risk in the Japanese population, highlighting a complex relationship between BMI and COVID-19 outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Obesity is a known risk factor for severe outcomes and mortality in COVID-19.
  • Understanding Body Mass Index (BMI) impact is crucial for managing the pandemic.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between COVID-19 and BMI in the Japanese population.
  • To analyze BMI's effect on critical illness progression and mortality.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized administrative claims data from a Japanese hospital.
  • Included 58,944 patients hospitalized with COVID-19.
  • Analyzed BMI at admission, critical illness, and mortality, stratified by age.

Main Results:

  • Critical illness risk increased with higher BMI.
  • Mortality risk followed a J-shaped curve, with underweight and obesity as risk factors.
  • Age-stratified analyses showed similar trends for critical illness and mortality.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated BMI is a risk factor for severe COVID-19 progression.
  • Both underweight and obesity are associated with increased COVID-19 mortality in Japan.
  • BMI presents a dual risk profile for COVID-19 severity and mortality.
Abstract

Keywords:
Administrative claims databaseBody mass indexCoronavirus disease 2019Obesity

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