Association of Obesity and Diabetes With SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Symptoms in the COVID-19 Community Research Partnership

Context Obesity and diabetes are established risk factors for severe SARS-CoV-2 outcomes, but less is known about their impact on susceptibility to COVID-19 infection and general symptom severity. Objective We hypothesized that those with obesity or diabetes would be more likely to self-report a positive SARS-CoV-2 test, and, among those with a positive test, have greater symptom severity and duration. Methods Among 44 430 COVID-19 Community Research Partnership participants, we evaluated the association of self-reported and electronic health record obesity and diabetes with a self-reported positive COVID-19 test at any time. Among the 2663 participants with a self-reported positive COVID-19 test during the study, we evaluated the association of obesity and diabetes with self-report of symptom severity, duration, and hospitalization. Logistic regression models were adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and health care worker status. Results We found a positive graded association between body mass index (BMI) category and positive COVID-19 test (overweight odds ratio [OR] 1.14 [1.05-1.25]; obesity I OR 1.29 [1.17-2.42]; obesity II OR 1.34 [1.19-1.50]; obesity III OR 1.53 [1.35-1.73]), and a similar but weaker association with COVID-19 symptoms and severity among those with a positive test. Diabetes was associated with COVID-19 infection but not symptoms after adjustment, with some evidence of an interaction between obesity and diabetes. Conclusion While the limitations of this health system convenience sample include generalizability and selection around test seeking, the strong graded association of BMI and diabetes with self-reported COVID-19 infection suggests that obesity and diabetes may play a role in risk for symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 beyond co-occurrence with socioeconomic factors.

Automated summary

This study investigated the impact of obesity and diabetes on COVID-19 infection and symptom severity. The results showed a positive association between obesity and COVID-19 infection, but diabetes was only associated with infection and not symptoms.