The association of metabolic syndrome and COVID-19 deterioration

Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2021 Oct 28;31(11):3236-3242. doi: 10.1016/j.numecd.2021.08.036. Epub 2021 Aug 25.

Abstract

Background and aims: To evaluate the prevalence and prognostic value of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in patients admitted for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Methods and results: In this monocentric cohort retrospective study, we consecutively included all adult patients admitted to COVID-19 units between April 9 and May 29, 2020 and between February 1 and March 26, 2021. MetS was defined when at least three of the following components were met: android obesity, high HbA1c, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, and low HDL cholesterol. COVID-19 deterioration was defined as the need for nasal oxygen flow ≥6 L/min within 28 days after admission. We included 155 patients (55.5% men, mean age 61.7 years old, mean body mass index 29.8 kg/m2). Fifty-six patients (36.1%) had COVID-19 deterioration. MetS was present in 126 patients (81.3%) and was associated with COVID-19 deterioration (no-MetS vs MetS: 13.7% and 41.2%, respectively, p < 0.01). Logistic regression taking into account MetS, age, gender, ethnicity, period of inclusion, and Charlson Index showed that COVID-19 deterioration was 5.3 times more likely in MetS patients (95% confidence interval 1.3-20.2) than no-MetS patients.

Conclusions: Over 81.3% of patients hospitalized in COVID-19 units had MetS. This syndrome appears to be an independent risk factor of COVID-19 deterioration.

Keywords: COVID-19 deterioration; Metabolic syndrome; Prevalence; Prognosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • COVID-19 / epidemiology*
  • Cholesterol, HDL / blood
  • Female
  • France / epidemiology
  • Glycated Hemoglobin / analysis
  • Hospitalization / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / epidemiology
  • Hypertriglyceridemia / epidemiology
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Metabolic Syndrome / epidemiology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Obesity / epidemiology
  • Prevalence
  • Prognosis
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • SARS-CoV-2

Substances

  • Cholesterol, HDL
  • Glycated Hemoglobin A