Delayed SARS-CoV-2 Clearance in Patients with Obesity

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to investigate the correlation between obesity and virus persistence in patients with COVID-19. DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 57 patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 were admitted to two clinical centers, and data were analyzed retrospectively. Among them, 18 patients with body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m(2) were diagnosed with obesity, and dynamics of viral replication were compared. RESULTS: Eighteen patients were diagnosed with obesity. The correlations between BMI and white blood cell, C-reactive protein, and cycle threshold (Ct) values of ORF1ab were not significant (all P > 0.05). On day 7 after admission, virus clearance was achieved in 13 (33.3%) patients with BMI < 25 kg/m(2) and 5 (27.8%) patients with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m(2) (χ(2) = 0.176, P =0.68). On day 14, the RNA tests were negative in 37 (94.9%) patients with BMI < 25 kg/m(2) and 13 (72.2%) patients with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m(2) (χ(2) = 5.865, P = 0.03). Multivariable analysis showed that only BMI ≥ 25 kg/m(2) (P = 0.02) was the independent risk factor for virus clearance on day 14. CONCLUSION: Obesity may affect the clearance of SARS-CoV-2, and BMI should be assessed in patients with COVID-19, although they are not seriously ill.