Effect of obesity and body mass index on coronavirus disease 2019 severity: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract

We conducted a systematic review of observational studies to examine the effects of body mass index (BMI) and obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 ) on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched. Sixteen articles were finally included in the meta-analysis, and a random effects model was used. BMI was found to be higher in patients with severe disease than in those with mild or moderate disease (MD 1.6, 95% CI, 0.8-2.4; p = .0002) in China; however, the heterogeneity was high (I2 = 75%). Elevated BMI was associated with invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) use (MD 4.1, 95% CI, 2.1-6.1; p < .0001) in Western countries, and this result was consistent across studies (I2 = 0%). Additionally, there were increased odds ratios of IMV use (OR 2.0, 95% CI, 1.4-2.9; p < .0001) and hospitalization (OR 1.4, 95% CI, 1.3-1.60; p < .00001) in patients with obesity. There was no substantial heterogeneity (I2 = 0%). In conclusion, obesity or high BMI increased the risk of hospitalization, severe disease and invasive mechanical ventilation in COVID-19. Physicians must be alert to these early indicators to identify critical patients.

• Authors: Tu-Hsuan Chang, Chia-Ching Chou, Luan-Yin Chang
• Journal: Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity (Obes Rev) Vol. 21 Issue 11 Pg. e13089 (11 2020) ISSN: 1467-789X [Electronic] England
• PMID: 32929833 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Systematic Review)
• Copyright: © 2020 World Obesity Federation.

Topics

• Betacoronavirus
• Body Mass Index
• COVID-19
• Coronavirus Infections (complications, physiopathology)
• Humans
• Obesity (complications, physiopathology)
• Pandemics
• Pneumonia, Viral (complications, physiopathology)
• SARS-CoV-2
• Severity of Illness Index