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Adiposity measures and SARS-CoV-2 positivity risk

According to a new study, younger and older individuals may have different adiposity measures as risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 positivity. The findings were published in the Journal of Obesity.

Researchers analysed data from 9386 UK Biobank participants who were tested for SARS-CoV-2 from 16 March 2020 to 29 June 2020. Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference were measured at baseline.

For individuals aged <65 years, there was a linear association between BMI category and the likelihood of a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result (risk ratio [RR] per category increase in BMI, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.02-1.17). Among individuals aged ≥65 years, only those with obesity class II (RR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.10-1.74) had a significantly increased risk of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 result versus underweight or normal weight individuals. High waist circumference (HWC) was associated with an increased risk of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 in individuals aged ≥65 years (RR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.00-1.27), but not in those aged <65 years.

"The findings suggest that other measures of adiposity (i.e., HWC) may be used in addition to BMI to identify older individuals at increased risk of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2," the authors concluded.


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