COVID-19: Respiratory illness, and Obesity as a risk factor
The data of the largest German cohort with a total of 50 Covid-19-Concerned, from the district of Heinsberg were evaluated. All patients suffered from severe forms of the disease and were treated in the University hospital of the RWTH Aachen University. On the basis of this group of the Doctors of the University hospital of the created gradients, the characteristics of heavy COVID-19 -. It is noteworthy that an above average number of Overweight people are among the victims.
Medical scientists and physicians led by Professor Dr. med. Michael Dreher, Director of the clinic for pneumology and Internistic intensive care medicine at the University hospital of the RWTH Aachen University, analyzed a group of 50 German Covid-19-patients and in -patients from the district of Heinsberg, which were treated with severe forms of the disease in the University hospital of the RWTH Aachen University. Paid special attention to the researchers due to the difference between curves with or without acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Here, Obesity seems to be an important factor. The results were recently presented in the “Deutschen ärzteblatt”.
Who the patients were?
The University hospital Aachen is located in the vicinity of the hard-hit district of Heinsberg. For this reason, were treated in the early Phase of the pandemic, many COVID-19-Sufferers with severe forms of the disease. A group of 50 Concerned has now been evaluated, in order to create a comparative presentation of the clinical characteristics of severe COVID-19-gradients.
In the case group, 24 Infected were intubated (on a respirator) had to be 26 Affected, which could not yet breathe on his own, but the additional oxygen required. All the victims in the case group were between 58 and 76 years old. The average age was 65 years.
Characteristics of the disease
The COVID-19-have been Sick on average four days after onset of symptoms in the University hospital. In the analysis of disease cases, the Doctors tried to pinpoint what factors cause Affected develop an acute respiratory distress syndrome, and artificial respiration must be. Two characteristics were particularly evident.
Respiratory illnesses and Obesity
Firstly, those developed predominantly ARDS, which were already vorerkrankt respiratory. 58 percent of the Patients with ARDS were already in the run-up to under a disease of the respiratory tract. In the group without ARDS, only 42 percent had a respiratory condition.
Even more, the Presence of Overweight and obesity with the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome in the context of seems. Because 83 percent of the Patients with ARDS were overweight or obese, while only 42 percent were in the group without ARDS, an increased Body Mass Index (BMI).
Viral load and mortality rates in both groups
In the two groups, no difference in viral load could be detected. The amount of the existing virus seems to be not a reliable factor in determining whether an ARDS developed, or not. In the ARDS group, three people died of failure of multiple organ. But also in the group without ARDS four Sufferers died of respiratory insufficiency (Pulmonary insufficiency).
What is the conclusion of the study suggests?
Although the study provides no definitive evidence, the data suggested that the ARDS risk in the context of a COVID-19-increases disease, if the Affected with a respiratory illness and/or Overweight or obesity is present. The extent of the viral load seems to play a minor role. The University hospital of RWTH Aachen University indicates that only patients with severe symptoms were studied. Therefore, the results cannot be transferred to the mild gradients of the infection. (vb)