Morbid Obesity as an Independent Risk Factor for COVID-19 Mortality in Hospitalized Patients Younger than 50.
Obesity (Silver Spring). 2020 May 23;:
Authors: Klang E, Kassim G, Soffer S, Freeman R, Levin MA, Reich DL
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: COVID-19 continues to spread and younger patients are also being critically affected. This study analyzed obesity as an independent risk factor for mortality in hospitalized patients younger than fifty.
METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data of COVID-19 patients hospitalized to a large academic hospital system in New York City between March 1st and May 17th, 2020. Data included demographics, comorbidities, BMI and smoking status. Obesity groups included: BMI 30-40 kg/m2 and BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2 . Multivariable logistic regression models identified variables independently associated with mortality in patients younger and older than 50.
RESULTS: Overall, 3,406 patients were included. 572 (17.0%) of the patients were younger than 50. In the younger age group, 60 (10.5%) patients died. In the older age group, 1,076 (38.0%) patients died. For the younger population, BMI above 40 kg/m2 was independently associated with mortality (aOR 5.1, 95% CI 2.3-11.1). For the older population, BMI above 40 kg/m2 was also independently associated with mortality to a lesser extent (aOR 1.6, 95% CI 1.2 - 2.3).
CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that hospitalized patients younger than 50 with morbid obesity are more likely to die from COVID-19. This is particularly relevant in the western world where obesity rates are high.
PMID: 32445512 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]