SARS-COV-2 (COVID-19) anosmia in patients with obesity: A retrospective study

Background and Aims: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of COVID-19, has infected 86,468,659 people around the globe until 6/1/2021, with 1,869,808 mortalities. Description of anosmia and other ENT symptoms is frequent within COVID-19. Furthemore, persons with obesity who become ill and require intensive care present challenges in patient management as it is more difficult to intubate these persond, and this is especially true in Saudi Arabia and the region of Hail, where morbid obesity is at 33.6% Our aim is to establish an epidimiological link for our population between anosmia, obesity and percentage of intubated patients as we measured mortalities and readmissions in 30 days. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 751 patients admitted as positive COVID 19 patients, from April 1, 2020 to July 31, 2020, covering a period of 4 months. We then categorised the patient in cohorts accordind to the existence of diabetes melitus anosmia or not, and categorised them according to their BMI index. We then correlated using statistical tool analysis - SPSS statistics tool - intubation, mortality,readmitance in 30 days in thes groups of patients Results: Around 12% of our cases were wit anosmia. 16% of these cases intubated, instead of 10% of non anosmia cases. Mortalities were higher in the anosmia group with BMI> 35 as percentage ( 62% to 17%) and readmissions, mainly correlated to other comorbidities such as asthma. Significant correlation between BMI and days of ICU stay in the CHF group Conclusions: Significantly elevated morbidity and mortality at obese anosmia cases with COVID 19