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Obesity is Associated with Severe Forms of COVID-19.
Caussy, C, Wallet, F, Laville, M, Disse, E
Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.). 2020;28(7):1175
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Plain language summary
One of the emerging findings of the COVID-19 pandemic is a prevalence of obesity and the severity of SARS-Cov-2 suffered by patients. Findings from this French seminal study reports a higher number of invasive mechanical ventilation in patients at Lille hospital with severe obesity (28.2%) with a BMI ≥35 kg/m2 versus lean patients < 25 kg/m2. At the time of print there were still 37% of these obese patients in ICU, in need of longer treatment than lean patients. Data from a Lyon hospital showed a lower number of obesity patients admitted into ICU at 11.3%, however this correlates with geographical differences in obesity levels. There were also differences in the medical approach between hospitals with Lyon favouring high-flow oxygen therapy through a nasal cannula with only the most severe patients mechanically ventilated. The differences in therapy raises the question whether patients with severe obesity (BMI ≥35 kg/m2) would benefit from an earlier intervention using invasive mechanical ventilation to help reduce the overall time spent in ICU.
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Coping behaviors associated with decreased anxiety and depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown.
Fullana, MA, Hidalgo-Mazzei, D, Vieta, E, Radua, J
Journal of affective disorders. 2020;275:80-81
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Worldwide, COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown might increase anxiety and depressive symptoms. The authors conducted an online survey of the general Spanish adult population two weeks after an official lockdown was established across the country as a quarantine. Results showed that: - sixty-five percent of the participants (mean age = 47 years; 73% females) reported anxiety or depressive symptoms (anxiety: 39% mild, 11% moderate, 4% severe; depressive: 29% mild, 9% moderate, 6% severe). - following a balanced diet and not reading news/updates about COVID-19 very often were the best predictors of lower levels of anxiety symptoms. - following a balanced diet, following a routine, not reading news/updates about COVID-19 very often, taking the opportunity to pursue hobbies, and staying outdoors or looking outside were the best predictors of lower levels of depressive symptoms. Authors conclude that simple coping behaviours may protect against anxiety and depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown.
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown might increase anxiety and depressive symptoms, but some behaviors may protect against them. METHOD To provide a preliminary evidence of the behaviors associated with decreased symptoms in the current COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown, we conducted a survey of 5545 adult individuals from the Spanish general population, two weeks after an official lockdown was established across the country. RESULTS Sixty-five percent of the sample reported anxiety or depressive symptoms. Following a healthy/balanced diet and not reading news/updates about COVID-19 very often were the best predictors of lower levels of anxiety symptoms. Following a healthy/balanced diet, following a routine, not reading news/updates about COVID-19 very often, taking the opportunity to pursue hobbies, and staying outdoors or looking outside were the best predictors of lower levels of depressive symptoms. LIMITATIONS Cross-sectional nature and use of sample of convenience. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that "simple" coping behaviors may protect against anxiety and depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown.