June 8, 2021 – obesity – A consistent major risk factor for the development of severe infection or death from COVID-19 infection – it also appears to significantly increase the risk of developing long-term complications from the disease, a syndrome often referred to as long-term COVID. 19 according to a new study.
“To our knowledge, this current study indicates for the first time that patients with moderate to severe obesity “They are at greater risk of developing long-term complications of COVID-19 after the acute phase,” the study’s lead author, Ali Aminian, MD, director of the Cleveland Clinic Institute of Obesity and Metabolism, said in a news release.
The study included 2,839 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 in the Cleveland Clinic health system between March and July 2020 who did not require admission to the intensive care unit and survived the initial phase of COVID-19.
Doctors looked for three indicators of possible long-term complications of COVID-19 — hospitalization, death, and the need for diagnostic medical examinations — that occurred 30 or more days after the first positive viral test for COVID-19.
In the 10 months following the initial infection with COVID-19, 44% of patients required hospitalization and 1% died.
The need for diagnostic testing after infection was 25% higher among those with moderate obesity (BMI 35–39.9) and 39% higher among those with severe obesity. obesity (BMI is >40), compared to a BMI of 18.5-24.9.
Specifically, people with obesity were more likely to have diagnostic tests for the heart, lung, and the kidneys; For gastrointestinal or hormonal symptoms. or blood disorders; and for Psychological health Problems after infection with COVID-19.
However, obesity was not associated with an increased risk of death during the follow-up period.
The results suggest that the effects of obesity go beyond exacerbation of infection and affect long-term symptoms.
“This study’s observations may be explained by underlying mechanisms of action in obese patients, such as excessive inflammation, immune impairment, and comorbidities,” said Bartolome Porguera, lead author of the study, in a Cleveland Clinic news release.
While there is a wide range of mild, long-term effects after infection with COVID-19 including psychological symptoms, fatigueBrain fog, muscle weakness, and difficulties sleeping have been reported, and the current study did not include information on those symptoms.
However, the authors note that even the finding that up to 44% of patients required hospitalization after COVID-19 – regardless of weight status – is concerning.
“These findings indicate a profound magnitude of the public health impact of [long-haul COVID-19] In contagion around the world, they wrote.
The a study It was published in the magazine Diabetes, obesity and metabolism.