Obesity as a risk factor for hospitalization in COronaVirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) patients: Analysis of the Tuscany regional database

• Published in: Nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases, 2021-03, Vol.31 (3), p.769-773
• Main Authors: Bellini, Benedetta, Cresci, Barbara, Cosentino, Claudia, Profili, Francesco, Bartolacci, Simone, Scoccimarro, Daniele, Voller, Fabio, Balzi, Daniela, Francesconi, Paolo, Mannucci, Edoardo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Chronic Disease - epidemiology; Comorbidity; COVID-19; COVID-19 - epidemiology; Female; Hospitalization - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Italy - epidemiology; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Obesity; Obesity - epidemiology; Risk Factors; SARS-CoV-2; Short Communication; Tuscany
• ISSN: 0939-4753; 1590-3729
• DOI: 10.1016/j.numecd.2020.11.030

Aim of the present study is to determine the role of obesity as a risk factor for COronaVirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) hospitalization. This observational study was performed using Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS) Tuscany COVID-19 database by the Agenzia Regionale Sanità (ARS), including all COVID-19 cases registered until April 30th, 2020, with reported information on chronic diseases. The principal outcome was hospitalization. An age and gender-adjusted logistic regression model was used to assess the association of clinical and demographic characteristics with hospitalization. Further multivariate models were applied. Of 4481 included subjects (36.9% aged over 70 years), 1907 (42.6%) were admitted to hospital. Obesity was associated with hospitalization after adjusting for age and gender. The association of obesity with hospitalization retained statistical significance in a fully adjusted model, including possible confounders (OR: 2.99 [IC 95% 2.04–4.37]). The effect of obesity was more evident in younger (