A patient with overweight or obesity: lessons from COVID-19 pandemic (EVA observational study data)
Yu. V. Lukina,
O. V. Lerman,
N. P. Kutishenko,
S. Yu. Martsevich,
O. M. Drapkina on behalf of the EVA study working group# #EVA study working group: Voronina V. P., Dmitrieva N. A., Kutishenko N. P., Lerman O. V., Lukina Yu. V., Martsevich S. Yu., Tolpygina S. N.
https://doi.org/10.15829/1728-8800-2025-4608
EDN: FGLKLM
Abstract
Aim. To evaluate the health status and outcomes of patients with overweight (pre-obesity) or obesity during long-term follow-up as part of the EVA observational program.
Material and methods. The EVA study included patients with overweight and obesity (body mass index (BMI) >25 kg/m2) from the outpatient registry of patients with cardiovascular diseases or their risk factors from April 8, 2019 to March 24, 2020. One and three years after the enrollment visit (coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic), we contacted patients by telephone to collect information on body weight at the survey date, medication adherence, and subjective assessment of pre-obesity/obesity. At the three-year follow-up, data were collected on COVID-19 history and the changes of comorbid conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Results. The study included 295 patients. The mean follow-up period was 3,6±0,5 years. The second telephone contact yielded following information on 261 (88,5%) patients: 18 — died, 243 — alive. In addition, 129 (43,7%) patients had COVID-19. Adherent patients and older people were less susceptible to the risk of COVID-19 infection compared to non-adherent and younger patients (p=0,016 and p=0,043, respectively). Every third (32,3%) patient who had COVID-19 experienced worsening of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), and almost every fourth (23,4%) patient developed new-onset NCDs. A decrease in weight self-assessment criticality was found, especially in patients with pre-obesity, 40% of whom considered their body weight to be normal. Predictors of adverse outcomes were prior myocardial infarction (hazard ratio (HR)=6,10; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1,18-31,46 (p=0,031)), type 2 diabetes (HR=2,78; 95% CI: 1,03-7,51, p=0,043) and BMI (HR=1,12; 95% CI: 1,01-1,24 (p=0,035)).
Conclusion. Significant predictors of an unfavorable prognosis in patients over a 3-year follow-up period were elevated BMI, prior myocardial infarction, and diabetes. After COVID-19, one-third of patients experienced progression of existing noncommunicable diseases, and one in four patients developed a new-onset NCDs.
Non-adherence was one of two factors associated with COVID-19 infection. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a slight decrease in weight self-assessment criticality was noted in patients with pre-obesity or obesity.
About the Authors
Yu. V. Lukina
National Medical Research Center for Therapy and Preventive Medicine
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Petroverigsky Lane, 10, bld. 3, Moscow, 101990
O. V. Lerman
National Medical Research Center for Therapy and Preventive Medicine
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Petroverigsky Lane, 10, bld. 3, Moscow, 101990
N. P. Kutishenko
National Medical Research Center for Therapy and Preventive Medicine
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Petroverigsky Lane, 10, bld. 3, Moscow, 101990
S. Yu. Martsevich
National Medical Research Center for Therapy and Preventive Medicine
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Petroverigsky Lane, 10, bld. 3, Moscow, 101990
O. M. Drapkina on behalf of the EVA study working group#
National Medical Research Center for Therapy and Preventive Medicine
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Petroverigsky Lane, 10, bld. 3, Moscow, 101990
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Supplementary files
What is already known about the subject?
- The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in excess mortality (compared to the three pre-pandemic years).
- COVID-19 is associated with complications and aggravation of many noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).
- Data on the impact of obesity on the incidence, severity, and outcomes of COVID-19 are contradictory.
What might this study add?
- Confirmed COVID-19 was observed in 44% of patients with pre-obesity/obesity.
- Higher body mass index, prior myocardial infarction, and diabetes were associated with adverse outcomes in patients with pre-obesity/obesity.
- A third of these patients experienced progression of existing NCDs after COVID-19, and one in four patients developed a new-onset NCD.
- Adherent patients and older people were less at COVID-19 risk compared to with non-adherent and younger patients.
- After the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, a decrease in criticality in weight self-assessment criticality was noted, primarily in patients with pre-obesity.
Review
For citations:
Lukina Yu.V., Lerman O.V., Kutishenko N.P., Martsevich S.Yu., Drapkina on behalf of the EVA study working group# O.M. A patient with overweight or obesity: lessons from COVID-19 pandemic (EVA observational study data). Cardiovascular Therapy and Prevention. 2025;24(10):4608. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.15829/1728-8800-2025-4608. EDN: FGLKLM
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