“What is added by this report? Among 148,494 U.S. adults with COVID-19, a nonlinear relationship was found between body mass index (BMI) and COVID-19 severity, with lowest risks at BMIs near the threshold between healthy weight and overweight in most instances, then increasing with higher BMI. Overweight and obesity were risk factors for invasive mechanical ventilation. Obesity was a risk factor for hospitalization and death, particularly among adults aged <65 years…
A J-shaped (nonlinear) relationship was observed between continuous BMI and risk for three outcomes. Risk for hospitalization, ICU admission, and death were lowest at BMIs of 24.2 kg/m2, 25.9 kg/m2, and 23.7 kg/m2, respectively, and then increased sharply with higher BMIs [emphasis added] (Figure 2)… Estimated risks for hospitalization and death were consistently higher for older age groups; however, within each age group, risk increased with higher BMIs.
Discussion: … The findings in this report are similar to those from previous studies that indicate an increased risk for severe COVID-19–associated illness among persons with excess weight and provide additional information about a dose-response relationship between higher BMI and risk for hospitalization, ICU admission, invasive mechanical ventilation, and death.”