Association between BMI and COVID-19 on hospital budgets

Excessive weight has been causally linked with some types of cancer, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular morbidity, and other non-communicable chronic diseases. 1 Larsson SC Burgess S Causal role of high body mass index in multiple chronic diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis of mendelian randomization studies. BMC Med. 2021; 19: 320 Crossref PubMed Scopus (86) Google Scholar By 2035, it is estimated that 1·4 billion adults will be living with obesity globally and the global economic impact will be US$4·32 trillion due to various elements of health-care costs and decreased productivity. 2 Rubino F Batterham RL Koch M et al. Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology Commission on the Definition and Diagnosis of Clinical Obesity. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2023; 11: 226-228 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Google Scholar The COVID-19 pandemic, an acute and unexpected global challenge for health-care systems, epitomised a surge in health-care demands against finite budgets. In The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology, James Altunkaya and colleagues 3 Altunkaya J Piernas C Pouwels KB et al. Associations between BMI and hospital resource use in patients hospitalised for COVID-19 in England: a community-based cohort study. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2024; (published online June 3.)https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(24)00129-3 Google Scholar estimated that between April 1, 2020, and Dec 31, 2021, the COVID-19 hospitalisation costs in the UK accumulated to GB£13·7 billion, £10·7 billion of which was attributed solely to overweight and obesity. Associations between BMI and hospital resource use in patients hospitalised for COVID-19 in England: a community-based cohort studyPatients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 with a BMI above the healthy range had longer stays, were more likely to be admitted to ICU, and had higher health-care costs associated with hospital treatment of COVID-19 infection as a result. This information can inform national resource allocation to match hospital capacity to areas where BMI profiles indicate higher demand. Full-Text PDF Open Access