Several pre-existing chronic health conditions may worsen the severity of the COVID-19 coronavirus disease. We have previously blogged about HIV/AIDS, Diabetes, and Coronary Disease on these pages. Today we turn our attention to how obesity may make COVID-19 more extreme, and discover how it works.
Studies Confirm Obesity Makes COVID-19 More Extreme
Eleanor Bird wrote an informative article in Medical News Today on May 6, 2020. She first describes how obese Chinese patients had a 142% higher risk of hospitalization during the first outbreak. And then how a subsequent Seattle study reported 62% of COVID-19 patients with obesity died, compared to 36% without it.
The Seattle test is however inconclusive because it only involved 24 patients. But a later one in France with 124 patients confirmed obesity may make COVID-19 more extreme. In this case, more patients were likely to require invasive mechanical ventilation down their throat.
These Studies Conform Obesity is a Risk Factor, But Why?
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) define adult obesity as a body mass index (BMI) of 30.0 or higher. The normal range is 18.5 to 25, while the range between these is considered overweight. Experts from United States, United Kingdom and Germany recently explained how obesity may make COVID-19 more extreme (see link below)
The team found the risk was independent of other co-morbid risk factors, although these may co-exist. Obesity may therefore increase the severity of respiratory problems on its own. That’s because those patients are more likely to have higher resistance in their airways, and weaker respiratory muscles.
This in turn leads to lower lung volumes which reduces resistance to COVID-19. Pneumonia becomes a more likely outcome, and this places greater stress on the heart. Patients suffering from obesity for whatever reason, may therefore need to take extra measures to reduce their risk of infection.
Related
Hypertension and COVID-19 Symptoms
Diabetes Symptoms Associated with COVID-19
COVID-19 Risk Factors Associated with HIV
Preview Image: Body Mass Index Graph
