A recent observational study conducted by investigators from the Cleveland Clinic, discovered that individuals with moderate or severe obesity are at a greater risk of experiencing long-term COVID-19 complications. Results from the study were published in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.
For the research, the team of investigators examined 3 indicators of possible long-term complications of COVID-19, including hospital admission, mortality, and need for diagnostic medical tests, from patients who tested positive for coronavirus. The study included 2,839 patients who did not require intensive care unit admission and survived the acute phase of COVID-19.
Findings from the study demonstrated that 44% of the study participants required hospitalisation and 1% died during a 10-month follow-up. Compared to people with a normal BMI, those with moderate obesity had a 28% greater risk of hospitalisation and those with severe obesity had a 30% greater risk.
Additionally, those with a BMI of 35 or greater had a significantly higher need for diagnostic tests to assess cardiac, pulmonary, vascular, renal, gastrointestinal, and mental health problems.