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COVID‐19 and its Severity in Bariatric Surgery‐Operated Patients
Author(s) -
Bel Lassen Pierre,
Poitou Christine,
Genser Laurent,
Marchelli Florence,
AronWisnewsky Judith,
Ciangura Cécile,
Jacques Flavien,
Moreau Pauline,
Oppert JeanMichel,
Clément Karine
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
obesity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.438
H-Index - 199
eISSN - 1930-739X
pISSN - 1930-7381
DOI - 10.1002/oby.23026
Subject(s) - medicine , covid-19 , weight loss , retrospective cohort study , obesity , type 2 diabetes , surgery , severe obesity , diabetes mellitus , risk factor , severity of illness , disease , outbreak , endocrinology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , virology
Objective Obesity is a major risk factor for severe forms of coronavirus disease (COVID‐19), but little is known about the post–bariatric surgery (BS) setting. The prevalence of likely COVID‐19 and its risk factors in patients followed up after BS was assessed. Methods A total of 738 patients who underwent BS and were followed up at a university medical center were surveyed. A retrospective comparison of characteristics at baseline, 1 year after BS, and at the time of lockdown was performed between patients with COVID‐19–likely events (CL) based on a combination of reported symptoms and those for whom COVID‐19 was unlikely. Results CL occurred in 62 (8.4%) patients, among whom 4 (6.4%) had a severe form requiring hospitalization and 1 (1.6%) died. The CL group had a higher proportion of persistent type 2 diabetes (T2D) at last follow‐up (36.2% vs. 20.3%, P = 0.01). BMI at the time of lockdown was lower in the CL group (30.2 ± 5.1 vs. 32.8 ± 6.5 kg/m 2 ; P < 0.01) with higher percent weight loss since BS in the CL group. Severe forms of COVID‐19 requiring hospitalization were associated with persistent T2D at the last follow‐up visit. Conclusions In BS patients, CL were associated with persistent T2D and lower BMI.