Given the risk for becoming seriously ill with the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) among obese individuals, researchers sought to report on the time frame of hospitalization until discharge of symptomatic patients. Thirty-four patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection who recovered from the infection were followed; Mean ± SD age 51.8 ± 16.7 years, mean ± SD BMI 27.4 ± 4.7 kg/m2. Of these patients, 26% (9/34) had obesity, with BMI above 30 kg/m2. Relative to those with a normal BMI, those with a BMI > 25 kg/m2 had longer mean length of hospital stay. They identified a trend for association between body weight and the time to negative detection of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene (RdRP) gene. Based on these results, they emphasize the necessity for priority of early detection and testing, and early therapy for people with obesity and COVID-19 infections. Source
