Among consecutive patients hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019, obesity was an independent risk factor for intubation or death.

A total of 305 patients were included in this study. We stratified patients by body mass index category: < 25 kg/m2 (54 patients, 18%), ≥ 25 kg/m2 to < 30 kg/m2 (124 patients, 41%), ≥ 30 kg/m2 to < 35 kg/m2 (58 patients, 19%), and ≥ 35 kg/m2 (69 patients, 23%). In total, 128 patients (42%) had a primary endpoint (119 patients [39%] were intubated and nine died [3%] without intubation). Sixty-five patients (51%) with body mass index greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 were intubated or died. Adjusted Cox models demonstrated that body mass index greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 was associated with a 2.3-fold increased risk of intubation or death (95% CI, 1.2–4.3) compared with individuals with body mass index less than 25 kg/m2.

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