Effect of Obesity Among COVID-19 Patients in Critical Care Settings

Overview

A novel human coronavirus that is now named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (formerly called HCoV-19) emerged in Wuhan, China, in late 2019 and is now causing a pandemic. Human-to-human transmission is primarily achieved through close contact of respiratory droplets, direct contact with the infected individuals, or by contact with contaminated objects and surfaces. As a new chapter in human life opens up, the world seems to be divided into two parts pre- and post-COVID-19 era. Body mass index (BMI) is widely used to define obesity and overweight in adults. A BMI between 25 and 30 indicates overweight and above 30 indicates obesity. It is important to note that the levels of the inflammatory cytokines found in obese people are significantly higher than those in lean people, but they are still lower than those in individuals with infection or trauma. Obesity-mediated alterations in the airways and immune system are extremely important at the present moment considering SARS-Cov-2 infection. This study is designed to determine the effect of overweight and obesity with outcomes of patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 infection in critical care setting. Also, to see outcomes of assisted ventilation in obese patients. This may help in establishing strong association of obesity with COVID-19 in our part of the world. This may open new treatment strategies for COVID-19 by treating obesity as an essential risk factor.

This Prospective Cohort Study study will be conducted in COVID-19 Intensive care unit, Services hospital Lahore. it will be completed in 3 months after approval of proposal taking 100 patients using Non Probability Purposive sampling. After ethical approval, research will be started and patients will be recruited from ICU according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Patients will be randomized to two groups Group A with normal BMI and Group B having over weight and obese patients. They will be given standard treatment as practiced and outcome will be measured in terms of recovery from disease or death. Duration of stay in hospital, progression of disease, O2 requirement, improvement in biochemical profile and radiology or occurrence of complications. Data will be put in SPSS version 25 and analysis will be done.