Table 2.
Risk of severity and mortality in obese patients with COVID-19.
| No. Cases | Risk (Risk; 95% CI; p) | Clinical Relevance | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12,591 Meta-analysis |
Obesity was associated with a 1.79 times higher risk of developing poor outcomes of COVID-19 (OR 1.87; 95% CI 1.55–2.26; p < 0.00001). Obesity was associated with increased need for ICU intervention (OR 1.57; 95% CI 1.18–2.09; p = 0.002) Obesity was associated with a higher risk of COVID-19 disease progression (OR 1.41; 95% CI 1.26–1.58; p < 0.00001). |
Increased risk of severe COVID-19 and increased demand for ICU care in patients with obesity. | [33] |
| 543,399 Meta-analysis |
Significantly increased risk of mortality with obesity (RR 1.42; 95% CI 1.24–1.63, p < 0.001) Class III obesity was strongly associated with an increased risk of mortality (RR 1.92; 95% CI: 1.50–2.47, p < 0.001). |
Obesity is associated with an increased risk of mortality in patients with COVID-19. The risk of mortality is higher in patients with class III obesity. | [34] |
| 482 | BMI between 30–34.9 kg/m2 significantly increased the risk of respiratory failure (OR 2.32; 95% CI: 1.31–4.09, p = 0.004) and admission to the ICU (OR 4.96; 95% CI 2.53–9.74, p < 0.001). Higher risk of death was observed in patients with a BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2 (OR 12.1; 95% CI 3.25–45.1, p < 0.001). |
Obesity is a strong, independent risk factor for respiratory failure, admission to the ICU and death among COVID-19 patients. A BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 identifies a population of patients at high risk for severe illness, whereas a BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2 dramatically increases the risk of death. |
[31] |
| 297 | Overweight (OR 4.222; 95% CI 1.322–13.476; p = 0.015) and obesity (OR 9.216; 95% CI 2.581–32.903; p = 0.001) were independent risk factors of severe illness. Obesity (OR 6.607; 95% CI 1.955–22.329; p = 0.002) was an independent risk factor of respiratory failure. |
Overweight and obesity were independent risk factors of severe illness in COVID-19 patients. | [29] |
| 3615 | Patients aged < 60 years with a BMI between 30–34 kg/m2 present an increased risk of acute admission (OR 2.0; 95% CI 1.6–2.6; p < 0.0001) and critical care (OR 1.8; 95% CI 1.2–2.7; p = 0.006). Patients with a BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2 and aged < 60 years present an increased risk of acute admission (OR 2.2; 95% CI 1.7–2.9; p < 0.0001) and critical care (OR 3.6; 95% CI 2.5–5.3; p < 0.0001). |
Obesity appears to be a previously unrecognized risk factor for hospitalization and ICU needs. | [35] |
OR = Odds Ratio; RR = Relative risk.