International Clinical and Medical Case Reports Journal (ISSN: 2832-5788) | Volume 3, Issue 9 | Research Article | Open Access DOI
Paul Anthony Camacho López*
Martinez-Ayala MC1, Santamaría-Boada JF1, Escalante-Remolina MA1, Bonilla-Devia AJ1, Villabona SJ1, Lora-Mantilla AJ1, Villamizar-Portilla SJ1,2, Gómez-Lahitton ED1,2 and Camacho PA1,2*
1Research Division, Fundación Oftalmológica de Santander - Foscal, Floridablanca, Colombia
2Universidad Autónoma de Bucaramanga, Bucaramanga, Colombia
*Correspondence to: Paul Anthony Camacho López
Fulltext PDF1.1. Introduction: Obesity is a significant risk factor for severe complications in COVID-19 patients. However, its relationship with admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) remains inadequately explored. This study aims to determine the association between obesity and early ICU admission in COVID-19 patients.
1.2. Objective: To evaluate the association between obesity and the risk of early ICU admission in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, aiming to enhance understanding of the factors influencing the clinical progression of the disease and the development of severe complications.
1.3. Patients and Methods: An ambispective cohort observational study was conducted on COVID-19 patients treated between March 2020 and September 2021 at a tertiary-level hospital in Santander, Colombia. Patients were classified as obese according to the BMI (≥ 30 kg/m²). The association between obesity and ICU admission was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression models.
1.4. Results: A total of 734 patients were included; 53.81% were male, with a mean age of 60.77 years (SD: 15.20). Of these, 28.34% had a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m², and 24.8% required ICU admission. The 22-day survival rate was 67%. Obesity had a Hazard Ratio (HR) of 1.51 [95% CI 1.11 - 2.06], and male sex had an HR of 1.71 [95% CI 1.26 - 2.32].
1.5. Conclusion: Obesity is related to an increased probability of ICU hospitalization and therefore worse adverse outcomes; findings that correlate with the outcomes of this group of patients in other viral respiratory infections. These finding emphasize the need for targeted preventive and management strategies to reduce burden of disease.
Obesity; COVID-19; Intensive care unit; Survival analysis; Risk factors
Martinez-Ayala MC, Santamaría-Boada JF, Escalante-Remolina MA, Bonilla-Devia AJ, Villabona SJ1, Lora-Mantilla AJ, et al. Obesity and the Risk of Early Admission to the Intensive Care Unit in COVID-19 Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Int Clinc Med Case Rep Jour. 2024;3(9):1-14.