Obesity and COVID-19; the “mortal marriage” for adults?

Abstract

Objective: Conduct a systematic review that addresses the association between increased mortality from COVID-19 related to obesity. Methods: A systematic review was developed from the databases, PubMed, BIREME and LILACS, via the DeCS / MeSH descriptors; including studies addressing obesity-related COVID-19 mortality. Using English, Portuguese and Spanish. The bibliographic survey was carried out in the period between December 2019 and September 2020. Results: Of the total number of articles selected, 5 met the inclusion criteria, and in 2 there was no significance (p > 0.05), one for BMI ≥ 30 and the other for BMI ≥ 40. In adults, the ratio of increment of mortality associated or not with obesity was significant, in 2 direct studies for BMI > 30 (p = 0.0046) and BMI ≥ 35 (p = 0.030) being corroborated by mortality data for BMI ≥ 40 (p = 0.02 ) and higher admission to the ICU BMI ≥ 35 (p <0.0001) and BMI 30-34 (p = 0.006). Conclusion: It was defined that there is a correlation between obesity and increased mortality from infection by COVID-19, reinforcing the adequate treatment of this important chronic disease in the prevention of se- vere forms of COVID-19.