Excessive weight as a risk factor for COVID-19 severity ‒ A retrospective study
Ana Beatriz Vasconcelos de Oliveira1, Denise Zaffari1, José Antonio Tesser Poloni1
1Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos (UNISINOS).
Nutricion Hospitalaria
|September 29, 2025
Summary
Obesity significantly worsens COVID-19 prognosis, increasing intensive care unit (ICU) admission and death risk. Excess weight independently elevates the need for mechanical ventilation and prolongs ICU stays in coronavirus disease 2019 patients.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
- Cardiology
Background:
- Obesity is a growing epidemic in Brazil, linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD), metabolic disorders, and severe infections.
- Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused millions of deaths globally.
- Understanding risk factors like obesity is crucial for managing COVID-19 outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between excess weight (overweight/obesity) and the clinical prognosis of COVID-19 patients.
- To determine if excess weight impacts outcomes such as intensive care unit (ICU) admission, mechanical ventilation (MV), and mortality.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal, retrospective cohort study was conducted in Southern Brazil.
- COVID-19 patients were categorized into thinness/eutrophy and overweight/obesity groups.
- Demographic, clinical, nutritional, biochemical, and outcome data were collected from medical records.
Main Results:
- The majority of patients (66.3%) were overweight or obese.
- Overweight patients had more ICU visits compared to normal weight individuals.
- Excess weight, particularly with ICU admission, increased mortality risk by 4.16 times and was linked to longer ICU stays and increased need for mechanical ventilation (MV).
Conclusions:
- ICU admission is a significant predictor of mortality in COVID-19 patients.
- The presence of overweight/obesity amplifies the association between ICU admission and mortality.
- Excess weight independently predicts longer ICU stays and higher rates of mechanical ventilation use.
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