BMI and future risk for COVID-19 infection and death across sex, age and ethnicity: preliminary findings from UK biobank

Sattar, N. et al. (2020) BMI and future risk for COVID-19 infection and death across sex, age and ethnicity: preliminary findings from UK biobank. Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research and Reviews, 14(5), pp. 1149-1151. (doi: 10.1016/j.dsx.2020.06.060) (PMID:32668401) (PMCID:PMC7326434)

Abstract

Aims: We examined the link between BMI and risk of a positive test for SARS-CoV-2 and risk of COVID-19-related death among UK Biobank participants. Methods: Among 4855 participants tested for SARS-CoV-2 in hospital, 839 were positive and of these 189 died from COVID-19. Poisson models with penalised thin plate splines were run relating exposures of interest to test positivity and case-fatality, adjusting for confounding factors. Results: BMI was associated strongly with positive test, and risk of death related to COVID-19. The gradient of risk in relation to BMI was steeper in those under 70, compared with those aged 70 years or older for COVID-19 related death (Pinteraction = 0.03). BMI was more strongly related to test positivity (Pinteraction = 0.010) and death (Pinteraction = 0.002) in non-whites (predominantly South Asians and Afro-Caribbeans), compared with whites. Conclusions: These data add support for adiposity being more strongly linked to COVID-19-related deaths in younger people and non-white ethnicities. If future studies confirm causality, lifestyle interventions to improve adiposity status may be important to reduce the risk of COVID-19 in all, but perhaps particularly, non-white communities.

• Item Type: Articles
• Keywords: Body mass index, COVID-19, obesity.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Berry, Professor Colin and Katikireddi, Professor Vittal and Celis, Dr Carlos and Gray, Professor Stuart and Gill, Professor Jason and Ho, Dr Frederick and Ghouri, Dr Nazim and Welsh, Professor Paul and Pell, Professor Jill and Sattar, Professor Naveed and McMurray, Professor John
• Authors: Sattar, N., Ho, F. K., Gill, J. M.R., Ghouri, N., Gray, S. R., Celis-Morales, C. A., Katikireddi, S. V., Berry, C., Pell, J. P., McMurray, J. J.V., and Welsh, P.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > MRC/CSO SPHSU; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Public Health
• Journal Name: Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research and Reviews
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 1871-4021
• ISSN (Online): 1878-0334
• Published Online: 30 June 2020
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2020 Diabetes India
• First Published: First published in Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research and Reviews 14(5): 1149-1151
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
303944		BHF Centre of Excellence	Rhian Touyz	British Heart Foundation (BHF)	RE/18/6/34217	CAMS - Cardiovascular Science
172690		Understanding the impacts of welfare policy on health: A novel data linkage study	Srinivasa Katikireddi	Office of the Chief Scientific Adviser (CSO)	SCAF/15/02	SHW - Public Health
72765	1	Measuring and Analysing Socioeconomic Inequalities in Health	Alastair Leyland	Medical Research Council (MRC)	MC_UU_12017/13	HW - MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit
72765	1	Measuring and Analysing Socioeconomic Inequalities in Health	Alastair Leyland	Office of the Chief Scientific Adviser (CSO)	SPHSU13	HW - MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit