Obesity as a risk factor in COVID-19: Possible mechanisms and implications

Recent reports suggest that obesity is a risk factor for more severe coronavirus disease. This article summarizes the available scientific evidence on the role of obesity in COVID-19. We focus on implications for younger patients and the proposed biological mechanisms that could explain both the hig...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Atención primaria 2020-08, Vol.52 (7), p.496
Main Authors: Petrova, Dafina, Salamanca-Fernández, Elena, Rodríguez Barranco, Miguel, Navarro Pérez, Pilar, Jiménez Moleón, José Juan, Sánchez, Maria-José
Format: Article
Language:eng ; spa
Subjects:
Betacoronavirus
Coronavirus Infections - epidemiology
Coronavirus Infections - etiology
COVID-19
Humans
Obesity - complications
Obesity - epidemiology
Pandemics
Pneumonia, Viral - epidemiology
Pneumonia, Viral - etiology
Risk Factors
SARS-CoV-2
Severity of Illness Index
Spain - epidemiology
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Summary:Recent reports suggest that obesity is a risk factor for more severe coronavirus disease. This article summarizes the available scientific evidence on the role of obesity in COVID-19. We focus on implications for younger patients and the proposed biological mechanisms that could explain both the higher risk observed and the possible higher contagiousness of people with obesity. We consider implications of the pandemic for people with obesity in relation to: difficulties in managing hospitalized patients, implications of confinement for the control and treatment of obesity, and the stigma people with obesity suffer, that could increase should the relationship between obesity and COVID-19 be confirmed. Understanding the role of obesity in COVID-19 should be a public health priority, given the high prevalence of this condition in our country.
ISSN:1578-1275
DOI:10.1016/j.aprim.2020.05.003