Higher BMI Increases Risk of Severe COVID-19 and Respiratory Infections: Study

A recent study using data from the U.K. Biobank found that individuals with a higher body mass index (BMI) are at an increased risk for hospitalization and death due to COVID-19, as well as severe lower or upper respiratory tract infections (LRTIs/URTIs). The study found that for every 10-unit increase in BMI, the hazard ratios were 2.26 for severe COVID-19, 1.74 for severe LRTIs, and 1.37 for severe URTIs. The greatest risk for severe illness was observed among those with a BMI of 35-60. The study supports previous findings regarding the association of BMI with severe COVID-19 and highlights the shared proposed mechanisms between BMI and COVID-19 and other LRTIs. Obesity is also associated with respiratory symptoms such as dyspnea and wheezing. The authors recommend individual and population-level approaches to reduce obesity and targeted vaccination programs for respiratory infections for individuals with a high BMI. While the study had some limitations, its findings emphasize the importance of maintaining a healthy weight to reduce the risk of severe respiratory infections.