Clinical and economic impact of COVID-19 on people with obesity in a Spanish cohort during the first pandemic peak

Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023 May 26:14:1146517. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1146517. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

Introduction: COVID-19 and obesity relationship has been extensively studied since the COVID-19 outbreak, proving obesity is a risk factor. This study aims to broaden the available information about this association and to evaluate the economic impact of obesity and the COVID-19 disease combination.

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed a sample of 3,402 patients admitted to a Spanish hospital with available body mass index (BMI) data.

Results: The prevalence of obesity was 33.4%. Patients with obesity showed a higher risk of hospitalization (OR 95% ConfidenceInterval [CI]=1.46; [1.24-1.73]; p < 0.001), which increased with the obesity degree (I: OR [95% CI]=1.28 [1.06-1.55], p =0.010; II: OR [95% CI]=1.58 [1.16-2.15], p =0.004; III: OR [95% CI] =2.09 [1.31-3.34], p =0.002). Patients with type III obesity had a significantly higher risk of intensive care unit (ICU) admission (OR [95% CI]= 3.30 [1.67-6.53]; p = 0.001) and invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) need (OR [95% CI]= 3.98 [2.00-7.94]; p<0.001). The average cost per patient was remarkably higher in patients with obesity (p = 0.007), reaching an excess cost of 28.41% in the study cohort and rising to 56.5% in patients < 70 years. The average cost per patient increased significantly with the degree of obesity (p = 0.007).

Discussion: In conclusion, our results suggest a strong association between obesity and adverse COVID-19 outcomes and higher expenditures in patients with both conditions.

Keywords: COVID-19; diabetes mellitus; economic burden; intensive care unit (ICU); invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV); obesity; obesity comorbidities.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19* / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Obesity / complications
  • Obesity / epidemiology
  • Pandemics
  • Retrospective Studies
  • SARS-CoV-2

Grants and funding

The authors declare that this study received funding from Novo Nordisk Pharma. The funder had the following involvement with the study: study design and review of manuscript for publication. Novo Nordisk Pharma had no role in data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, or writing of the study report. The APC was funded by Novo Nordisk Pharma.