| Title: | Association of obesity and its genetic predisposition with the risk of severe COVID-19: Analysis of population-based cohort data |
| Journal: | Metabolism |
| Published: | 22 Aug 2020 |
| Pubmed: | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32835759/ |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.metabol.2020.154345 |
| URL: | http://www.metabolismjournal.com/article/S0026049520302092/pdf |
Publication 4214
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE: We aimed to examine the associations of obesity-related traits (body mass index [BMI], central obesity) and their genetic predisposition with the risk of developing severe COVID-19 in a population-based data.</p>
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We analyzed data from 489,769 adults enrolled in the UK Biobank-a population-based cohort study. The exposures of interest are BMI categories and central obesity (e.g., larger waist circumference). Using genome-wide genotyping data, we also computed polygenic risk scores (PRSs) that represent an individual's overall genetic risk for each obesity trait. The outcome was severe COVID-19, defined by hospitalization for laboratory-confirmed COVID-19.</p>
RESULTS: Of 489,769 individuals, 33% were normal weight (BMI, 18.5-24.9 kg/m2), 43% overweight (25.0-29.9 kg/m2), and 24% obese (≥30.0 kg/m2). The UK Biobank identified 641 patients with severe COVID-19. Compared to adults with normal weight, those with a higher BMI had a dose-response increases in the risk of severe COVID-19, with the following adjusted ORs: for 25.0-29.9 kg/m2, 1.40 (95%CI 1.14-1.73; P = 0.002); for 30.0-34.9 kg/m2, 1.73 (95%CI 1.36-2.20; P < 0.001); for 35.0-39.9 kg/m2, 2.82 (95%CI 2.08-3.83; P < 0.001); and for ≥40.0 kg/m2, 3.30 (95%CI 2.17-5.03; P < 0.001). Likewise, central obesity was associated with significantly higher risk of severe COVID-19 (P < 0.001). Furthermore, larger PRS for BMI was associated with higher risk of outcome (adjusted OR per BMI PRS Z-score 1.14, 95%CI 1.05-1.24; P = 0.004).</p>
CONCLUSIONS: In this large population-based cohort, individuals with more-severe obesity, central obesity, or genetic predisposition for obesity are at higher risk of developing severe-COVID-19.</p>
14 Keywords
- Body Mass Index
- COVID-19
- Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
- Female
- Genetic Predisposition to Disease
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Obesity, Abdominal
- Overweight
- Risk Factors
- SARS-CoV-2
- Severity of Illness Index
- Waist Circumference
6 Authors
- Zhaozhong Zhu
- Kohei Hasegawa
- Baoshan Ma
- Michimasa Fujiogi
- Carlos A Camargo
- Liming Liang
Enabling scientific discoveries that improve human health