Clinical and economic impact of COVID-19 on people with obesity in a Spanish cohort during the first pandemic peak

COVID-19 and obesity relationship has been extensively studied since the COVID-19 outbreak, proving obesity is a risk factor. This study aims to broaden the available information about this association and to evaluate the economic impact of obesity and the COVID-19 disease combination. This retrospective study analyzed a sample of 3,402 patients admitted to a Spanish hospital with available body mass index (BMI) data. The prevalence of obesity was 33.4%. Patients with obesity showed a higher risk of hospitalization (OR 95% ConfidenceInterval [CI]=1.46; [1.24-1.73]; < 0.001), which increased with the obesity degree (I: OR [95% CI]=1.28 [1.06-1.55], =0.010; II: OR [95% CI]=1.58 [1.16-2.15], =0.004; III: OR [95% CI] =2.09 [1.31-3.34], =0.002). Patients with type III obesity had a significantly higher risk of intensive care unit (ICU) admission (OR [95% CI]= 3.30 [1.67-6.53]; = 0.001) and invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) need (OR [95% CI]= 3.98 [2.00-7.94];