The association between food insecurity status and COVID-19 in an Iranian population: a case–control study

AIM: The 2019 novel coronavirus epidemic (COVID-19) is a highly contagious viral disease with a high rate of morbidity and mortality. Food insecurity has frequently been linked to the emergence of infectious diseases. The present study was conducted to determine the association of food insecurity and socioeconomic status with COVID-19 in the Iranian population. SUBJECT AND METHODS: The study was a case–control study including 248 participants (124 COVID-19-infected people with a positive PCR test and a history of clinical symptoms of COVID-19 and 124 non-infected people with a negative PCR test and no history of clinical symptoms of COVID-19 infection) aged 20 to 60 years. The participants in the two groups were matched based on age, sex, and BMI. Anthropometric and socioeconomic data were collected. Individuals’ food insecurity status during the previous 12 months (before the disease for the case group) was assessed using a validated 18-item USDA questionnaire. RESULTS: About 44% of the controls and 76% of the case group were food-insecure (P < 0.001). After controlling for any possible confounders, only food insecurity and poor economic level increased the risk of COVID-19, by about three times (OR = 3.10; 95% CI = 1.44–6.68; P = 0.004) and 9.5 times (OR = 9.53; 95% CI = 3.73–24.30; P < 0.001), respectively. CONCLUSION: Food insecurity and poor economic status are linked to an increased risk of COVID-19. Future prospective studies are needed to confirm these outcomes and identify the underlying mechanisms.