Epidemiological and clinical characteristics self-reported in patients with obesity and COVID-19 disease: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: In Argentina, obesity in adults is a problem with an average prevalence of 25.4%. The relationship between COVID-19 and obesity shows a higher prevalence of overweight/obesity and severe disease among patients with COVID-19. Therefore, the objective of the study was to know the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients diagnosed with obesity who survived SARSCoV-2 infection. METHODS: A descriptive and analytical cross-sectional observational study was carried out. A self-administered survey was applied. RESULTS: The median age was 41 years and 69.9% were women. The most prevalent presenting symptoms were asthenia (86.7%), anosmia (64.5%) and cough (64%). Regarding persistent symptoms 12 weeks after diagnosis, the most prevalent ones were asthenia (52.9%), sleep disorders (32.4%) and lack of concentration/memory (31.7%). The risk was higher for women (OR: 2.865; CI95%: 2.23-3.67) with obesity (OR: 1.58; CI95%: 1.16-2.16). Severe disease in obese was almost threefold that in non-obese patients (15.7% vs. 5.4%; p<0.001). DISCUSSION: Obese patients showed presenting symptoms that point to a systemic inflammatory state, with dyspnea and cough being more common, and have a higher prevalence of severe disease and pneumonia, as well as a higher risk of developing persistent symptoms, especially if they are women and sedentary.