High BMI is associated with a higher risk for death and prolonged length of stay (LOS) in the ICU among patients with COVID-19, according to a study published in PLOS ONE. Researchers used data from the Swedish Intensive Care Registry to identify 1,649 patients with COVID-19 admitted to ICUs to determine whether high BMI affects the risk for death or prolonged LOS. They found a significant association between BMI and the risk for the composite outcome of death or LOS 14 or more days in survivors (OR per standard deviation [SD] increase, 1.30), when adjusting for sex, age, and comorbidities. This association remained after further adjusting for severity of illness at ICU admission (OR, 1.30 per SD). Individuals with a BMI of 35 kg/m2 or greater had a two-fold higher risk for the composite of death or LOS 14 days or more. There was also an association between high BMI and death during intensive care and a prolonged LOS in survivors assessed as separate outcomes.

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