Adults with Obesity are Found to be More Prone to COVID-19 Infection and its Complications: Reveals Study
Number of patients opting for bariatric surgery to get rid of obesity has increased significantly after COVID-19 lockdown: Says Expert
Evidently, COVID-19 hasn’t spared anyone irrespective of age, comorbidities or region from getting infected. Moreover, an international study reveals that young adults with obesity are found to be more prone to COVID-19 infection and its complications. [1] Obesity has been shown to alter immune function and increase the susceptibility to infection from different pathogens. Obesity is associated with decreased pulmonary function, including decreased expiratory reserve volume and respiratory system compliance, which may place a person with obesity at a higher risk of COVID-19 complications. [1]
It has been quite evident that obesity has been one of the biggest co-morbidities for increased mortality rates during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the first meta-analysis of its kind, an international team of researchers pooled data from scores of peer-reviewed papers capturing 399,000 patients. They found that obese individuals who contracted SARS-CoV-2 were 113% more likely than people of healthy weight to land in the hospital, 74% more likely to be admitted to an ICU, and 48% more likely to die. Another study, the largest descriptive study yet of hospitalized COVID-19 patients, found that 77% of nearly 17,000 patients were overweight (29%) or obese (48%).
It has been established that obesity negatively affects immunity. It is also linked to a number of independent comorbidities, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, fatty liver, and respiratory disease. People with obesity have had a bad experience during COVID-19 as they faced double axed sword. On the one hand, they were prone to infection, on the other hand, those seeking surgery to get rid of obesity didn’t pursue it due to lockdown. However, the number of patients opting for bariatric surgery to get rid of obesity has increased significantly after COVID-19 lockdown. We have been performing more surgeries post lockdown. We have interesting case studies of Bariatric surgery to share that we came across during and post lockdown. One of the patients Ms Sakshi (name changed) consulted us in Jan’ 2020 and her surgery was scheduled for Feb’. She had a BMI of almost 40 along with co-morbidities like Hypertension, PCOS, GERD and Joint pain. But due to a nationwide lockdown, her surgery got postponed. As soon as we restarted performing surgeries in late August 2020, Ms Sakshi was one of the first patients we operated on. We did Bariatric surgery, which was successful and now she is in good health. Another patient, Mr Madhav (name changed) consulted us in Jan’ 2020. He weighed more than 200 Kg with an approx BMI of 73. He had comorbidities like Sleep Apnea and Joint pain. The situation was quite grim for him during the lockdown as he was at an increased risk to be infected by COVID due to his overweight. Hence, as soon as the lockdown was lifted partially, and the airports were reopened, he flew down to us and the Bariatric surgery was performed on him successfully.
Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment for obesity, type-2 diabetes and co-morbidities, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. The recent advancements in the types of Bariatric surgeries such as Gastric Balloon and Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty procedures have made it more prolific.
Recent studies have reported that globally, more than 1.9 billion adults are overweight and 650 million are obese. Approximately 2.8 million deaths are reported as a result of being overweight or obese). In India, more than 135 million individuals are affected by obesity wherein abdominal obesity is one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVDs). [2]
Dr Mufazzal Lakdawala
Director & Head, Department for General & Minimal access surgery
Sir H.N.Reliance Foundation Hospital & Research Center
References:
[1]Dicker D, Bettini S, Farpour-Lambert N, Frühbeck G, Golan R, Goossens G, Halford J, O’Malley G, Mullerova D, Ramos Salas X, Hassapiou M, N, Sagen J, Woodward E, Yumuk V, Busetto L: Obesity and COVID-19: The Two Sides of the Coin. Obes Facts 2020;13:430-438. doi: 10.1159/000510005
[2] Ahirwar R, Mondal PR. Prevalence of obesity in India: A systematic review. Diabetes Metab Syndr. 2019 Jan-Feb;13(1):318-321. doi: 10.1016/j.dsx.2018.08.032. Epub 2018 Sep 21. PMID: 30641719.
