COVID-19 and Obesity: Overlapping of Two Pandemics

• Published in: Obesity facts Vol. 14; no. 6; pp. 579 - 585
• Main Authors: Gammone, Maria Alessandra, D’Orazio, Nicolantonio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland S. Karger AG 24.09.2021; Karger Publishers
• Subjects: Adipocytes; Adipose Tissue; Body fat; Chronic illnesses; COVID-19; Cytokines; Endocrine system; Homeostasis; Humans; Hypoxia; Infections; Inflammation; Insulin; Kinases; Metabolism; Mortality; Obesity; Obesity - complications; Obesity - epidemiology; pandemic; Pandemics; Proteins; Review; Review Article; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; thrombosis; Weight control; COVID-19; Obesity; Pandemic; Inflammation; Body fat; Thrombosis
• ISSN: 1662-4025; 1662-4033; 1662-4033
• DOI: 10.1159/000518386

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has recently led to worldwide research efforts to identify subjects at greater risk of developing more severe illness: overall obesity displayed a strong correlation with critical illness and major severity of COVID-19 manifestations. Summary: Obesity and metabolic disorders are closely linked to chronic systemic inflammation. The adipose tissue constitutes a source of cytokines, which configure a low-grade inflammation and a hypercoagulation status; in addition, diagnosis and care of obese patients are often complicated by excess weight and ventilation difficulties. Key Messages: This review aims to examine the intersection between obesity and adverse outcomes of COVID-19, in order to investigate its preventive and/or therapeutic potential in the management of obesity-related COVID-19 complications.