Link Between Obesity and The Severity of COVID-19 Infection: A Multicenter Retrospective Study in Dubai

Background: Obesity is a major contributing factor for poor prognosis in many diseases and COVID-19 is no exception. Studies regarding the relationship between obesity and poor COVID-19 disease severity and outcome are however lacking in the gulf region. This study aimed to examine links between BMI and high mortality rate, duration of intensive care unit admission, and time on mechanical ventilation support among COVID-19 patients under the care of Dubai Health Authority (DHA) in the United Arab Emirates.Subjects dan Method: This was a retrospective, descriptive, record-based study of 637 patients admitted with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 PCR at three tertiary hospitals in Dubai, UAE. Demographic and clinical data were obtained from March 1st, 2020, through June 1st, 2020, all patients aged 18 and above were included, pregnant ladies were excluded. The dependent variables were ICU admission, COVID severity, need of respiratory support, viral clearance. The independent variables were the disease outcome between the obese and non-obese. The data were analyzed using chi-square test.Results: Total 200 (31.4%) were obese, while 435 (68.3%) were not obese. Most patients (81%) were male patients. Data Analysis reveals that obesity is associated with the risk of ICU admissions (OR=2.88, 95%CI=1.9 to 4.37; p<0.001). The findings also indicate that Covid-19 obese patients required higher respiratory support devices compared to non-obese patients (35.8% vs 16.3%, respectively) (OR= 2.87, 95%CI=1.93 to 4.27; p<0.001). Clinical severity at day 7th of hospital admissions among obese patients was direr compared to non-obese patients (34.5% vs 15.9%, respectively) (OR=2.79, 95%CI=1.87 to 4.16; p<0.001). Mortality rate at day 14 of admission were found higher among obese group too (9.5% vs 3.4%) (OR=2.95, 95%CI=1.46to 5.94; p= 0.020).Conclusion: This study indicates that COVID-19 patients with obesity (BMI more than 30 kg/m2) are found to have severer respiratory manifestations, higher mortality rate, prolonged periods of intensive care unit admission, and utilization of invasive mechanical ventilation

Clinical Profile of Mortality and Treatment Profile of Survival in Patients with COVID-19 Pneumonia Admitted to Dubai Hospital

Background: Most COVID-19 studies conclude old age and coexisting illnesses as mortality determinants owing to different populations or methodologies, or omitting factors affecting outcomes. Methods: We analyzed COVID-19 patients’ data (N = 391) of Dubai Hospital between January 1, 2020 and June 30, 2020. Results: Only 19 patients (4.8%) were UAE nationals, while 372 (95.2%) were expatriates. Median age was 48 (interquartile range, 40–56) years; 22% were <40 years, and only 16.6% were female. Cough was the most common symptom (78.7%), fever was 77.4%, and gastrointestinal symptoms were least common (13.8%). Approximately 95% had elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) and D-dimers (79%), lymphocytopenia 47.3%, and thrombocytopenia 13.8%. Mortality was 30% for the total sample and 50% in ICU patients. ICU patients were older than non-ICU (age; 49.6 ± 10.9 vs. 46.7 ± 12.7 years, p = 0.04). Eighty-five percent of ICU patients required invasive mechanical ventilation, 78% vasopressors, 88% sedation, 84% muscle paralysis, while none require any of these in the medical group. Survivors had fewer patients with sedatives (p = 0.01). The median length of stay in the hospital was 19 days, ICU stays 14 days, and ventilator 11 days. The Mann-Whitney test showed that survivors spent more days in the ICU (median [IQR] 18 [6.5–29.5] vs. 11 [4–18], p value 0.003) and the hospital (32 [14.5–49.5] vs. 14 [7–21], p value 0.001) than nonsurvivors. Ferritin and D-dimers were higher in nonsurvivors, but CRP was lower in nonsurvivors (ferritin (ng/mL) median (IQR) 1,434 (661.5–2206.5) versus 1,362 (630–2,094), p value = 0.017, CRP (mg/L) 118.7 (53.4–184) versus 134.9 (66.5–203.2), p value 0.001 and D-dimer (µg/mL) 1.54 (0–3.13) versus 1.09 (0–2.51), p value = 0.001). Multiple logistic regression analysis determined age, fever on admission, use of oxygen, mechanical ventilation, and steroids as predictors of survival. Conclusions: COVID-19 patients were young males with pre-existing conditions. Ferritin, CRP, and D-dimers were higher in nonsurvivors. Treatment with chloroquine, antivirals, and anticoagulation was not different between survivors and nonsurvivors. Steroid use was a survival predictor

Link Between Obesity and The Severity of COVID-19 Infection: A Multicenter Retrospective Study in Dubai

Background: Obesity is a major contributing factor for poor prognosis in many diseases and COVID-19 is no exception. Studies regarding the relationship between obesity and poor COVID-19 disease severity and outcome are however lacking in the gulf region. This study aimed to examine links between BMI and high mortality rate, duration of intensive care unit admission, and time on mechanical ventilation support among COVID-19 patients under the care of Dubai Health Authority (DHA) in the United Arab Emirates. Subjects dan Method: This was a retrospective, descriptive, record-based study of 637 patients admitted with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 PCR at three tertiary hospitals in Dubai, UAE. Demographic and clinical data were obtained from March 1st, 2020, through June 1st, 2020, all patients aged 18 and above were included, pregnant ladies were excluded. The dependent variables were ICU admission, COVID severity, need of respiratory support, viral clearance. The independent variables were the disease outcome between the obese and non-obese. The data were analyzed using chi-square test. Results: Total 200 (31.4%) were obese, while 435 (68.3%) were not obese. Most patients (81%) were male patients. Data Analysis reveals that obesity is associated with the risk of ICU admissions (OR=2.88, 95%CI=1.9 to 4.37; p<0.001). The findings also indicate that Covid-19 obese patients required higher respiratory support devices compared to non-obese patients (35.8% vs 16.3%, respectively) (OR= 2.87, 95%CI=1.93 to 4.27; p<0.001). Clinical severity at day 7th of hospital admissions among obese patients was direr compared to non-obese patients (34.5% vs 15.9%, respectively) (OR=2.79, 95%CI=1.87 to 4.16; p<0.001). Mortality rate at day 14 of admission were found higher among obese group too (9.5% vs 3.4%) (OR=2.95, 95%CI=1.46to 5.94; p= 0.020). Conclusion: This study indicates that COVID-19 patients with obesity (BMI more than 30 kg/m2) are found to have severer respiratory manifestations, higher mortality rate, prolonged periods of intensive care unit admission, and utilization of invasive mechanical ventilation