March 8, 2021

Body Mass Index and Risk for COVID-19–Related Hospitalization, Intensive Care Unit Admission, Invasive Mechanical Ventilation, and Death — United States, March–December 2020

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Clinical Characteristics and Health Care Setting

Keywords (Tags): clinical characteristics, risk factors

• Among 148,494 U.S. adults diagnosed with COVID-19 between March-December 2020, individuals with a BMI near the threshold between healthy weight and overweight generally had the lowest risks for hospitalization, ICU admission, and death, with higher risks associated with higher BMI. Obesity was a risk factor for hospitalization and death, particularly among adults aged <65 years. Individuals in the highest BMI category (≥45 kg/m²) had a two-fold greater risk of death and 1.6-fold greater risk of hospitalization compared with patients with a healthy weight. Underweight COVID-19 patients had a 20% higher risk for hospitalization than those with a healthy weight.

Kompaniyets et al. (Mar 8, 2021). Body Mass Index and Risk for COVID-19–Related Hospitalization, Intensive Care Unit Admission, Invasive Mechanical Ventilation, and Death — United States, March–December 2020. MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7010e4