Summary
This prospective cohort study of 6.9 million English adults examined BMI as a risk factor for severe COVID-19 outcomes. The analysis found a linear increase in risk of hospital admission, ICU admission, and COVID-19 death across the full BMI range, independent of related chronic conditions. The relative risk attributable to increasing BMI was particularly pronounced in adults under 40 years and in Black populations.
UK applicability
The findings are directly applicable to United Kingdom policy and practice, being derived from English general practice records linked to national COVID-19 testing and mortality data. The results support BMI-stratified risk assessment and targeted public health interventions for vulnerable populations in the UK.
Key measures
Hazard ratios for hospital admission, ICU admission, and COVID-19 mortality per unit increase in BMI; stratified analyses by age group, ethnicity, and comorbidity status (type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease)
Outcomes reported
The study examined associations between body mass index (BMI) and severe COVID-19 outcomes, defined as hospital admission, intensive care unit admission, and death from COVID-19. Risk was assessed across the full BMI range using Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for demographic, behavioural, and clinical factors.
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