How The Severity Of Influenza And SARS Depends On Body Weight

How the severity of influenza and SARS depends on body weight

Scientists believe that their most important finding is that in adults with obesity and low weight, the risk of complications from acute respiratory viral infections and influenza is high, even in the absence of concomitant chronic diseases.

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For acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) and influenza, people who are obese or underweight are more likely to experience complications and are hospitalized, according to a new study published in Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruse s.

Scientists studied 4,778 cases of SARS - both outpatient and hospitalized - in six hospitals in Mexico. They believe that their most important finding is that in adults with obesity and low weight, the risk of complications from acute respiratory viral infections and influenza is high, even in the absence of concomitant chronic diseases.

The results obtained extended to all types of acute respiratory viral infections, but in general, the risk of complications was higher in patients with influenza. Weight had the least influence on the symptoms of influenza A caused by the H1N1 pdm 2009 strain. The greatest number of complications was caused by influenza B and influenza A / H3N2.

Previously, the risk associated with low body mass index was previously described only in relation to the risk of death from all causes. Thus, this study shows for the first time being underweight as a risk factor for influenza and SARS.

At the same time, scientists did not find a clear relationship between weight and severity of the disease in children, which is somewhat at odds with the data of previous studies.

The authors believe that doctors should pay attention to the body mass index of patients, when calculating the risk of complications from viral colds.