Is High Body Mass Index a Risk Factor for COVID-19?

Abstract

Objective:The aim of this study is to evaluate the relation of body mass index (BMI) with Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) and its effects on the course of the disease in COVID-19 patients.Methods:The sample of the study consists of 97 adults who applied to our hospital COVID-19 triage clinic between 01.04.2020-01.06.2020. Patients’ demographic data, symptoms, thorax computed tomography results, laboratory results, body weight, height, and need for intensive care therapy and mechanical ventilation were retrospectively screened. BMI was defined as normal if it was <25.0 kg/m2, overweight if 25.0-29.9 kg/m2, and obese if ≥30.0 kg/m2.Results:It was determined that 40.2% of the individuals participating in the study were overweight and 30.9% were obese. It was observed that obese individuals had more severe symptoms such as higher fever and poorer sense of smell, and higher thoracic bilateral involvement than those with normal weight (p<0.05). Similarly, the hospitalization rates of overweight and obese individuals (82.1% and 76.7%, respectively) (p=0,051), and the dependence rate of the latter on a mechanical ventilator (17.9%) were found to be higher (p<0.05). In the logistic regression analysis, it was found that a BMI of 25.0 and above increased the rate of hospitalization by approximately 3.5 times (p<0.05).Conclusion:It was determined that increased BMI was an important risk factor for COVID-19 and increased hospitalization rates. In societies with high obesity rates, evaluation of obesity in COVID-19 patients is important to start treatment early and reduce hospitalization rates.

Keywords

• body mass index
• covid-19
• obesity