Obesity in patients with COVID-19 is associated with a higher risk of blood clots and death, as well as a greater need for a ventilator, based on findings presented during a focused COVID-19 late-breaking science session Nov. 17 during AHA 2020 and simultaneously published in Circulation.

Researchers analyzing data from approximately 8,000 patients in the American Heart Association’s COVID-19 Cardiovascular Disease Registry found 44% to be obese or severely obese (BMI >40 kg/m2) – a trend they noted to be much higher than the general U.S. adult population, suggesting an important risk factor for hospitalization with COVID-19.

In other findings, severely obese patients were, on average, nearly 18 years younger and more likely to be Black. Severely obese patients also had an approximately 30% higher relative risk of in-hospital death. Researchers also noted the relative risks of death and mechanical ventilator use were highest among patients younger than 50 years of age, indicating that severely obese patients who were younger were not protected against the most critical complications of COVID-19.

According to James A. de Lemos, MD, FACC, an author of the study, these and other findings from the registry illustrate that "COVID-19 prevention strategies are needed to specifically target Black and Hispanic communities, as well people with obesity, in order to reduce the risks of hospitalization and death.”

Clinical Topics: COVID-19 Hub, Diabetes and Cardiometabolic Disease

Keywords: AHA Annual Scientific Sessions, AHA20, COVID-19, Metabolic Syndrome, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2

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