Two-thirds of COVID-19 hospitalizations occur in patients suffering from at least one of four chronic diseases: obesity, hypertension, diabetes or heart failure, US researchers report in the Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA).
- Obesity, hypertension, diabetes and heart failure are diseases that make patients more likely to need hospitalization in the presence of coronavirus infection.
- About two-thirds of COVID-19 hospitalizations were associated with these conditions, according to the researchers
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COVID-19 and chronic diseases
Researchers from Tufts University in Medford (Massachusetts, USA) calculated that among the nearly 907 patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 in the US by November 18, 2020, 30 percent. were obese people, 26 percent. with hypertension, 21 percent – with diabetes, and 12 percent. with heart failure.
As estimated by the researchers, a total of as many as 64 percent. (about two-thirds) of COVID-19 hospitalizations were associated with these conditions. Scientists emphasize that they could have been avoided if Americans did not suffer from these chronic diseases. In other words, people infected with the coronavirus but not having any of the four diseases could have had a COVID-19 course that would not require a hospital stay.
The mathematical model used showed that if the US reduced the prevalence of each of the four diseases by 10%, 11% could be avoided. all hospitalizations due to COVID-19.
As the authors of the study recall, each of the diseases they analyzed was previously associated with a higher risk of more severe COVID-19 and hospitalization due to it.
“While the recently approved COVID-19 vaccines will ultimately reduce the number of infections, there is still a long way to go to that goal,” commented Dariush Mozaffarian, who led the study. In his opinion, it is necessary to investigate whether improving cardiometabolic health will reduce hospitalizations and COVID-19 cases.
“We know that just by changing the quality of your diet, even without losing weight, you can quickly improve your metabolic health within 6-8 weeks. The key is to see if this approach will reduce the number of severe COVID-19 cases, the researcher emphasized.
According to the lead author of the study, Meghan O’Hearn, healthcare professionals should educate patients at risk of severe COVID-19 about preventive behaviors, such as exercise and better dietary quality, that can improve metabolic health.
Mozaffarian assessed that his team’s work also indicated the need for priority vaccination of people with cardiometabolic diseases.
COVID-19: Factors Increasing the Risk of Hospitalization
The scientists also calculated that the risk of hospitalization in connection with the analyzed diseases was significantly influenced by age and race. For example, in adults under 50, 8 percent. hospitalization was related to diabetes, while in the group of people aged 65 and over this percentage was 29%.
Interestingly, obesity had an equally strong impact on the risk of hospitalization for COVID-19 in all age groups.
The risk of a hospital stay due to COVID-19 with the four conditions was higher – regardless of age – among black people than among white people. In the case of diabetes, it was also higher in the Hispanic group.
jjj/ ekr/PAP
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