January 27, 2021

A Higher BMI Is Not Associated with a Different Immune Response and Disease Course in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Clinical Characteristics and Health Care Setting

Keywords (Tags): risk factors

Among patients with COVID-19 in The Netherlands who required mechanical ventilation in the ICU, higher BMI was not associated with differences in measurements of plasma cytokines or clinical outcomes. Patients (n=67) were classified as obese (BMI ≥30 kg/m²) and non-obese (BMI <30 kg/m²). Obese participants had a lower elevation in body temperature (38.1C vs. 38.7C) but no other clinical differences between the groups were observed, including differences in time on ventilator, ICU length of stay, or 40-day mortality. BMI did not correlate with plasma levels of cytokines including IL-6, IL-8, TNF, MCP-1, IL-1RA, or IP-10. 

Kooistra et al. (Jan 25, 2021). A Higher BMI Is Not Associated with a Different Immune Response and Disease Course in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients. International Journal of Obesity. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-021-00747-z