Obesity is a strong independent risk factor for short-term mortality and adverse outcomes in Mexican patients with COVID-19: A national observational study

We aimed to study obesity alone or in combination with other comorbidities as a risk factor for short-term all-cause mortality and other adverse outcomes in Mexican patients evaluated for suspected COVID-19. We performed a retrospective observational analysis in a national cohort of 71,103 patients. Multivariate logistic regression models were applied to determine risk of death, hospitalisation, invasive mechanical ventilation, pneumonia, and admission to an intensive care unit, conferred by obesity and other comorbidities From February 24 to April 26, 2020, 71,103 patients were evaluated for suspected COVID-19; 15,529 (21.8%) had a positive test for SARS-CoV-2; 46,960 (66.1%), negative, and 8,614 (12.1%), pending results. Obesity alone increased adjusted mortality risk in positive patients (HR=2.37, 95%CI:1.96-2.86), but not in negative and pending-result patients. In conclusion, obesity is a strong independent risk factor for short-term mortality and critical illness in Mexican patients with COVID-19; risk increases when obesity is present with other comorbidities.