Association Between Obesity and COVID-19 Disease Severity in Saudi Population

Abstract

Background

The persistent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has placed a significant burden on the scientific and medical professions. The study examined the association between body mass index (BMI), stratified by category, and severe form of COVID-19, and to explore the influence of demographic characteristics and other known risk factors.

Methods

This was a retrospective analysis based on COVID-19 data from the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health. Data were collected for all patients admitted to three main hospitals in Riyadh region between March 1st and July 30, 2020. The effects of BMI, demographic characteristics, clinical presentation, and comorbidities on infection severity were investigated.

Results

A total of 950 patients were included in the study (70% male, 85% aged younger than 60 years old). A total of 55 (5.8%) patients were underweight, 263 (27.7%) were normal weight, 351 (37%) were overweight, 161 (17%) were obese class I, 76 (8%) were obese class II, and 44 (4.6%) were obese class III. Cough, fever, and shortness of breath were the most common symptoms among overweight patients. According to the findings of a bivariate logistic regression study, class III obesity was significantly associated with a more severe form of COVID-19 (odds ratio, 2.874; 95% confidence interval, 1.344–6.149).

Conclusion

This study revealed that patients with a BMI ≥40 kg/m² had a higher risk of severe COVID-19 than those with normal weight. This suggests that obesity is a risk factor for severe COVID-19 and influences disease presentation.

Keywords:

• COVID-19
• body mass index
• obesity
• severe COVID-19

Acknowledgments

This research project was supported by the Researchers Supporting Project number (RSP-2021/340), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.