Published: 06 December 2021
COVID-19 AND METABOLIC DISORDERS IN 2021
Metabolic disorders, COVID-19 and vaccine-breakthrough infections

Norbert Stefan
Nature Reviews Endocrinology (2021)

Obesity and impaired metabolic health are important risk factors for severe COVID-19. Novel data indicate that these risk factors might also promote vaccine-breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infections in fully vaccinated people. Here, these relationships are discussed and post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 that are related to obesity and impaired metabolic health are addressed.

Key advances
Novel data reveal a causal role for increased BMI in the development of severe COVID-19 (ref.2).

Solid scientific evidence indicates that there is a linearly increased risk of hospital admission or death due to COVID-19 at a BMI >23 kg/m2, particularly in younger people3.

Novel data indicate not only that hyperglycaemia and insulin resistance might drive immunosenescence, but also that hyperinsulinaemia might promote increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and complicated COVID-19 (ref.6).

Studies indicate that obesity and impaired metabolic health might increase the risk of vaccine-breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infections7,8,9.