Body Mass Index as an independent predictor for Mortality and Severe Disease among Patients with COVID-19

Abstract

Objective: Worldwide studies reported variable death rates and severe disease among patients with COVID-19. The different rate of obesity across countries is one of the main predictors that may explain the diverse rate of COVID outcomes. This study explored the association between body mass index (BMI) and other predictors of COVID-19 severity and mortality. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed cases with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections. We used univariate and multivariate logistic regression to understand the relationship between patients' characteristics and severe COVID-19 and mortality. Results: 297 cases (83%) of 354 COVID-19 cases reviewed were symptomatic. 66 (18.6%) were hospitalized, (5.3%) were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), and 2.8% (10/354) died. The risk factors associated with mortality were old age (OR 95% CI 1.08[1.0-1.15]; p<0.03) and high BMI (OR 95% CI 9.29[1.92-44.98]; p<0.006). High BMI was also significantly associated with critical disease (OR 95% CI 5.19[2.18-12.38]; P<0.001) Conclusion: High BMI was the leading independent risk factor associated with symptomatic COVID-19, severe COVID-19, and COVID-19-related mortality. Medical interventions to prevent and treat obesity are urgently needed to reduce covid-19 related mortality.