Abstract
Background and ObjectiveObesity has been reported as a risk factor for adverse outcomes in COVID-19. However, available studies presenting data on obesity prevalence in patients with COVID-19 have conflicting results. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the prevalence of obesity in these patients and to stratify the estimates by illness severity.MethodsWe performed a literature search with the use of Medline/PubMed and Google Scholar database from December 1, 2019 to June 27, 2020 and systematically reviewed studies reporting the number of obese patients with real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR)-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection.ResultsNineteen studies were identified. The pooled obesity prevalence rates were 0.32 (95% CI: 0.24–0.41) in hospitalized patients, 0.41 (95% CI: 0.36–0.45) in patients admitted to intensive care unit, 0.43 (95% CI: 0.36–0.51) in patients needing invasive mechanic ventilation (IMV), and 0.33 (95% CI: 0.26–0.41) in those who died. Obesity was associated with a higher risk for hospitalization [Odds ratio (OR): 1.3, 95% CI: 1.00–1.69; I2 52%, p = 0.05], ICU admission (OR: 1.51, 95% CI: 1.16–1.97; I2 72%, p = 0.002), and IMV requirement (OR: 1.77, 95% CI: 1.34–2.35; I2 0%, p < 0.001). The increase in risk of death did not reach statistical significance (OR: 1.28, 95% CI: 0.76–2.16, p = 0.35) which might be due to obesity survival paradox and/or unidentified factors.ConclusionsOur data indicate that obese subjects may be at higher risk for serious illness if infected and obesity may play a role in the progression of COVID-19.
Highlights
Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has rapidly spread and become a global pandemic, with more than 13 million confirmed cases resulting in over 585,000 confirmed deaths as of July 17, 2020 [1]
Obesity represents a major and urgent global health problem [5]. It tends to increase with increasing age and is a known risk factor for the abovementioned comorbidities identified as predisposing factors for adverse outcomes in COVID-19 [5]
There are several reports evaluating the burden of obesity on the clinical course of COVID-19, it has not been fully documented whether people living with obesity have a higher risk of getting COVID-19
Summary
Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has rapidly spread and become a global pandemic, with more than 13 million confirmed cases resulting in over 585,000 confirmed deaths as of July 17, 2020 [1]. Obesity represents a major and urgent global health problem [5] It tends to increase with increasing age and is a known risk factor for the abovementioned comorbidities identified as predisposing factors for adverse outcomes in COVID-19 [5]. Other studies which present data on obesity prevalence in patients with COVID-19 have conflicting results, reporting similar, lower, or higher rates of obesity compared to general population [9,10,11,12]. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was, to evaluate the prevalence of obesity in patients with COVID-19 and to stratify the estimates by illness severity. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the prevalence of obesity in these patients and to stratify the estimates by illness severity
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
