Substantial weight loss can cut risk of Covid-19 complications

Cleveland (United States): Among patients with obesity, prior weight loss achieved with bariatric surgery was associated with a 60 per cent lower risk of developing severe complications from Covid-19 infection, says a study.

The research has been published in the 'JAMA Surgery Journal'. Numerous studies have established obesity as a major risk factor for developing serious illness from an infection of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19. Obesity weakens the immune system, creates a chronic inflammatory state, and increases risk for cardiovascular disease, blood clots, and lung conditions. All of these conditions can complicate Covid-19.

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The aim of this study was to examine whether a successful weight-loss intervention in patients with obesity prior to contracting Covid-19 could reduce the risk of developing a severe form of this disease.

"The research findings show that patients with obesity who achieved substantial and sustained weight loss with bariatric surgery prior to a Covid-19 infection reduced their risk of developing severe illness by 60 percent," said Ali Aminian MD, lead author of the study and director of Cleveland Clinic's Bariatric & Metabolic Institute.

"Our study provides strong evidence that obesity is a modifiable risk factor for Covid-19 that can be improved through a successful weight-loss intervention," he added. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="1230"] Social media[/caption] Also read | Omicron is spreading in community: Delhi Health Minister

A total of 20,212 adult patients with obesity were included in this observational study. A group of 5,053 patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or greater who had weight-loss surgery between 2004 and 2017 were carefully matched 1:3 to non-surgical patients, resulting in 15,159 control patients. Compared with those in the non-surgical group, patients who had bariatric surgery lost 19 per cent more body weight prior to March 1, 2020 (the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak in Cleveland). After the COVID-19 outbreak, researchers looked at four Covid-19-related outcomes: rate of contracting SARS-CoV-2 infection, hospitalisation, need for supplemental oxygen and severe disease (defined as a combination of ICU admission, need for mechanical ventilation or death). [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="976"] Social media[/caption] Although the rate of contracting SARS-CoV-2 was similar between the groups (9.1 per cent in the surgical group and 8.7 per cent in the non-surgical group), participants in the weight-loss surgery group experienced much better outcomes after contracting COVID-19 compared with those in the non-surgical group. -PTC News