The Dual Pandemics of COVID-19 and Obesity: Bidirectional Impact.

Nitin Kapoor; Sanjay Kalra; Wael Al Mahmeed; Khalid Al-Rasadi; Kamila Al-Alawi; Maciej Banach; Yajnavalka Banerjee; Antonio Ceriello; Mustafa Cesur; Francesco Cosentino; Alberto Firenze; Massimo Galia; Su-Yen Goh; Andrej Janez; Peter Kempler; Nader Lessan; Paulo Lotufo; Nikolaos Papanas; Ali A Rizvi; Amirhossein Sahebkar; Raul D Santos; Anca Pantea Stoian; Peter P Toth; Vijay Viswanathan; Manfredi Rizzo;
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, has been shown to disrupt many organ systems in the human body. Though several medical disorders have been affected by this infection, a few illnesses in addition may also play a role in determining the outcome of COVID-19. Obesity is one such disease which is not only affected by the occurrence of COVID-19 but can also result in a worse clinical outcome of COVID-19 infection. This manuscript summarizes the most recent evidence supporting the bidirectional impact of COVID-19 and obesity. It highlights how the presence of obesity can be detrimental to the outcome of COVID-19 in a given patient because of the mechanical limitations in lung compliance and also by the activation of several thrombo-inflammatory pathways. The sociodemographic changes brought about by the pandemic in turn have facilitated the already increasing prevalence of obesity. This manuscript highlights the importance of recognizing these pathways which may further help in policy changes that facilitate appropriate measures to prevent the further worsening of these two pandemics.
Journal
ISSN 1869-6953
Published 01 Oct 2022
Volume 13
Issue 10
Pages 1723 1736 1723-1736
DOI 10.1007/s13300-022-01311-2
Type Journal Article | Review
Sponsorship