1.Overweight and Obesity are Risk Factors for Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Propensity Score-Matched Case-Control Study
Wonjun JI ; Rugyeom LEE ; Kyungmin HUH ; Minsun KANG ; In Cheol HWANG ; Munkhzul RADNAABAATAR ; Dae Ho LEE ; Jaehun JUNG
Endocrinology and Metabolism 2021;36(1):196-200
Although obesity is a risk factor for infection, whether it has the same effect on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) need confirming. We conducted a retrospective propensity score matched case-control study to examine the association between obesity and COVID-19. This study included data from the Nationwide COVID-19 Registry and the Biennial Health Checkup database, until May 30, 2020. We identified 2,231 patients with confirmed COVID-19 and 10-fold-matched negative test controls. Overweight (body mass index [BMI] 23 to 24.9 kg/m2; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.16; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1.03 to 1.30) and class 1 obesity (BMI 25 to 29.9 kg/m2; aOR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.14 to 1.42) had significantly increased COVID-19 risk, while classes 2 and 3 obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) showed similar but non-significant trend. Females and those <50 years had more robust association pattern. Overweight and obesity are possible risk factors of COVID-19.
2.Effect of Underlying Comorbidities on the Infection and Severity of COVID-19 in Korea: a Nationwide Case-Control Study
Wonjun JI ; Kyungmin HUH ; Minsun KANG ; Jinwook HONG ; Gi Hwan BAE ; Rugyeom LEE ; Yewon NA ; Hyoseon CHOI ; Seon Yeong GONG ; Yoon-Hyeong CHOI ; Kwang-Pil KO ; Jeong-Soo IM ; Jaehun JUNG
Journal of Korean Medical Science 2020;35(25):e237-
Background:
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is an emerging threat worldwide. It remains unclear how comorbidities affect the risk of infection and severity of COVID-19.
Methods:
This is a nationwide retrospective case-control study of 219,961 individuals, aged 18 years or older, whose medical costs for COVID-19 testing were claimed until May 15, 2020. COVID-19 diagnosis and infection severity were identified from reimbursement data using diagnosis codes and on the basis of respiratory support use, respectively. Odds ratios (ORs) were estimated using multiple logistic regression, after adjusting for age, sex, region, healthcare utilization, and insurance status.
Results:
The COVID-19 group (7,341 of 219,961) was young and had a high proportion of female. Overall, 13.0% (954 of 7,341) of the cases were severe. The severe COVID-19 group had older patients and a proportion of male ratio than did the non-severe group. Diabetes (odds ratio range [ORR], 1.206–1.254), osteoporosis (ORR, 1.128–1.157), rheumatoid arthritis (ORR, 1.207–1.244), substance use (ORR, 1.321–1.381), and schizophrenia (ORR, 1.614–1.721) showed significant association with COVID-19. In terms of severity, diabetes (OR, 1.247; 95% confidential interval, 1.009–1.543), hypertension (ORR, 1.245–1.317), chronic lower respiratory disease (ORR, 1.216–1.233), chronic renal failure, and end-stage renal disease (ORR, 2.052–2.178) were associated with severe COVID-19.
Conclusion
We identified several comorbidities associated with COVID-19. Health care workers should be more careful while diagnosing and treating COVID-19 when patients have the abovementioned comorbidities.