Relationship between COVID-19 deaths and morbid obesity

Date:
August 20, 2020
Source:
University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa
Summary:
The prevalence of morbid obesity in a population is associated
with negative outcomes from COVID-19, according to a new analysis
of morbid obesity data and reported COVID-19 deaths in the United
States.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
The prevalence of morbid obesity in a population is associated with
negative outcomes from COVID-19, according to an analysis by researchers
at The University of Alabama of morbid obesity data and reported COVID-19 deaths in the United States.


==========================================================================
In a paper published in the journal World Medical and Health Policy, researchers found a statistically significant relationship between
the prevalence of morbid obesity and cases of -- and deaths from --
COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. The researchers
suggest their findings can help identify resources needed for morbidly
obese patients and inform mitigation policies.

"Health practitioners and policymakers need to understand the influence
that morbid obesity has on negative COVID-19 outcomes in order to respond
to this and similar emerging infectious diseases in the future," said
Dr. Kevin Curtin, UA professor of geography.

Obesity is known to increase risk from respiratory infections and hinder pulmonary function, and there's an emerging pattern in the treatment of
COVID- 19 patients that obesity is a pervasive problem and associated
with negative health outcomes such as requiring a ventilator.

"The current global pandemic of COVID-19, which is highly contagious with presumed high mortality rates, has dramatically increased the need to understand the association between obesity and negative health outcomes
from respiratory disease, particularly death," said Dr. Lisa Pawloski, professor of anthropology and associate dean for international programs
for the UA College of Arts & Sciences.

The researchers used deaths from COVID-19 compiled nationally at the
county level by The New York Times and estimates of morbid obesity rates
for each U.S.

county derived from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
and population data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The research looked at
adults aged 18 to 64 and found that morbid obesity rates are positively correlated with COVID-19 case and death rates, and that morbid obesity
rates can explain 9 percent of the variation in COVID-19 death rates.

"As a matter of practical importance, with the complex interactions that
are likely to produce negative COVID-19 outcomes, any single variable
that can explain more than 9 percent of the variation is worth examining further," Curtin said.

Moreover, by overlaying the data geographically the researchers found
that spatial clusters of high rates of morbid obesity are associated
with spatial clusters of high rates of COVID-19 deaths.

Although there are anecdotal reports of obesity complications in patients
with COVID-19, most formal studies so far of this relationship have been
in China, which has lower obesity rates, and in hospital settings. This
work, the researchers say, is the first repeatable quantitative analysis
that addresses this relationship.

The short term implications of the research could affect treatment
and policy.

Long term, the findings point to the need to strengthen public health
efforts that address obesity.

"The findings suggest that areas with larger obese populations will need greater resources for effective treatment of COVID-19, as more cases
and deaths should be expected as compared with the general population," Pawloski said.

Along with Curtin and Pawloski, co-authors on the paper include Penelope Mitchell, a UA doctoral student in geography, and Jillian Dunbar, who
recently graduated with a bachelor's degree in biology from UA.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by
University_of_Alabama_in_Tuscaloosa. Note: Content may be edited for
style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Kevin M. Curtin, Lisa R. Pawloski, Penelope Mitchell, Jillian
Dunbar.

COVID‐19 and Morbid Obesity: Associations and Consequences
for Policy and Practice. World Medical & Health Policy, 2020; DOI:
10.1002/ wmh3.361 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/08/200820143854.htm

--- up 5 weeks, 1 day, 1 hour, 55 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1337:3/111)