Authors: Moe Ameri, Najah R. Hadi, May Ameri MS, Ali Al-Ameri.
Background: This report aims to observe a clinical association between obesity, and COVID-19 symptoms and post infection symptoms. Along with the importance of supportive treatment, in detection of COVID-19 complications, as early detection and intervention made a huge difference in patients’ prognosis.
Subjects and Methods: After verbal consent and clearance from ethics committee, all the 3 patients (n=3) presenting with common cold, fever, cough, and breathlessness, along with obesity were considered for entry to this study. The diagnosis of COVID-19 was confirmed via a positive rtPCR test among all the patients. All the patients were given standard treatment.
Results: All the 3 cases were obese adults aged 51 years old male, 33-year-old male, and 45- year-old female, all of them presented with fever, cough, breathlessness, and body ache simulating a respiratory tract viral infection. They were initially treated with Cephalosporin IV 1 g, Levaquin 750 mg daily, and subcutaneous injection of low molecular weight heparin 40 mg BID, Dexamethasone 6 mg IV BID depending upon the clinical status of these patients. Those patients who had lower oxygen saturation below 90% (n=2) were also administered dexamethasone dosage to 8 mg BID IV, and meropenem to 1 g IV BID, and continue supportive treatment for possible benefit. All patients recovered.
Conclusions: Over the course of our 3 cases series, we were able to observe a clinical association between obesity, and COVID-19 symptoms, and post-infection symptoms. While this is a preliminary outcome on the impact, it does raise questions about disease modifications in patients with obesity, and its impact on response to treatment. We also saw the importance of supportive treatment, in the detection of COVID-19 complications, as early detection and intervention made a huge difference in patients’ prognosis.
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