Obesity and Outcomes in COVID-19: When an Epidemic and Pandemic Collide Article

Full Text via DOI: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2020.05.006 PMID: 32622449 Web of Science: 000549815300023
Highly Cited Paper International Collaboration

Cited authors

  • Sanchis-Gomar, Fabian; Lavie, Carl J.; Mehra, Mandeep R.; Henry, Brandon Michael; Lippi, Giuseppe

Abstract

  • Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States and in much of the westernized world, contributing to considerable morbidity. Several of these obesity-related morbidities are associated with greater risk for death with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 penetrates human cells through direct binding with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptors on the cell surface. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 expression in adipose tissue is higher than that in lung tissue, which means that adipose tissue may be vulnerable to COVID-19 infection. Obese patients also have worse outcomes with COVID-19 infection, including respiratory failure, need for mechanical ventilation, and higher mortality. Clinicians need to be more aggressive when treating obese, especially severely obese, patients with COVID-19 infection. (C) 2020 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Publication date

  • 2020

Published in

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0025-6196

Start page

  • 1445

End page

  • 1453

Volume

  • 95

Issue

  • 7