Nutritional Advice El Mondo
Objectives:
A higher body mass index (BMI) has become acknowledged as one of the important risk factors for developing critical condition in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In addition to BMI, body composition, particularly visceral adiposity, might be an even more accurate measure to stratify patients. Therefore, this review article has been conducted.
Is abdominal adiposity a risk factor for COVID-19 infections?
Study design:
This review article included studies published until 17th November 2020.
Results and conclusions:
The investigators found that patients requiring intensive care had higher visceral fat area values [SMD = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.20 to 0.71, p 0.001] compared to patients on the general ward.
The investigators found, similarly, patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation had higher visceral fat area values [SMD = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.05 to 0.71, p = 0.026] compared to patients without invasive mechanical ventilation requirement.
The investigators concluded that visceral fat area values are higher in COVID-19 patients with critical condition. Therefore, abdominal adiposity seems to be a risk factor in COVID-19 and patients with central obesity might need special attention.
Original title:
Visceral adiposity elevates the risk of critical condition in COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis by Földi M, Farkas N, […], Szentesi A.
Link:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33263191/
Additional information of El Mondo:
Find more information/studies on coronavirus right here.
Abdominal obesity, also known as central obesity and truncal obesity, is a condition when excessive abdominal fat around the stomach and abdomen has built up to the extent that it is likely to have a negative impact on health.