Association of Cellulitis With Obesity: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Cellulitis is a common bacterial skin infection with a tendency for recurrence.
• Obesity is a growing global health concern linked to various infections, including skin and soft tissue infections.
• Understanding risk factors for cellulitis is crucial for effective prevention and management strategies.

Approach:

• A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the association between cellulitis and obesity.
• Multiple databases (Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, Web of Science) were searched up to March 2021.
• Included studies (case-control, cross-sectional, cohort) assessed the odds or risk of increased Body Mass Index (BMI) in cellulitis patients, adhering to PRISMA guidelines and using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for bias assessment.

Key Points:

• Nine case-control studies with 68,148 participants were included in the quantitative meta-analysis.
• A significant association was found between cellulitis and obesity (pooled OR 2.67, 95% CI 1.91-3.71).
• No significant association was observed between cellulitis and being overweight (pooled OR 1.69, 95% CI 0.99-2.88).
• Male patients had increased odds of cellulitis (pooled OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.12-2.38).

Conclusions:

• Cellulitis is significantly associated with obesity.
• Maintaining a healthy BMI is recommended for individuals with cellulitis.
• Further research may explore the specific mechanisms linking obesity to cellulitis pathogenesis.