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Seven out of 10 patients admitted to the intensive care unit due to coronavirus infection were overweight or obese. The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) has published a report analyzing the cases of 194 COVID-19 patients. What do we know about them?
An analysis of patients with severe COVID-19 cases in the UK
UK specialists analyzed 194 cases of patients infected with the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 who were hospitalized in intensive care units. According to data collected by the NHS, 63 percent. patients in the ICU due to COVID-19 are overweight, obese or morbidly obese. The average age of patients with the most severe symptoms of coronavirus is 64 years, but as much as 37%. of these patients are under 60 years of age. Seven out of 10 patients admitted to the intensive care unit are men.
The discovery that overweight and obesity may be a risk factor for serious COVID-19 complications is worrying as 2/3 of UK adults fall into this category. In addition, so far the British health care has focused on patients over 70 and chronically ill, and the report shows that not only the elderly and the sick are at risk. Only 9 percent. critically ill patients had comorbidities such as heart disease or lung disease.
Doctors are looking at the link between being overweight and obese and being more exposed to the severe symptoms of COVID-19. Previous research has shown that obese people are more likely to experience serious complications and die from infections such as the flu. According to doctors, the immune system of obese people is constantly overwhelmed as it tries to protect and repair damaged cells. As a result, it has fewer resources to defend against new infections, such as the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
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Obese people also tend to eat foods that are highly processed, low in fiber and antioxidants, which support the immune system. Moreover, usually (it is not always the case) they rarely decide to exercise. Doctors also pay attention to the fact that overweight and obesity make it difficult to breathe properly.
All of this may explain why the lungs of obese people are occupied and destroyed faster by the coronavirus compared to the lungs of people of normal weight. Perhaps overweight and obesity should be considered as risk factors for severe COVID-19 symptoms.
Have a question about the coronavirus? Send them to the following address: [email protected]. You will find a daily updated list of answers HERE: Coronavirus – frequently asked questions and answers
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