Higher BMI may be associated with severe infections
Individuals with a higher body mass index may have a greater risk of severe infections, according to findings presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes 2024 Annual Meeting.
In the study, investigators used data from the UK Biobank to examine the outcomes of 486,924 participants. They then categorized the participants into three groups: those who had been hospitalized as a result of bacterial infections, those who had been hospitalized with viral infections and those without infections.
The investigators found that a five-point increase in BMI was correlated with a 30% and 32% higher likelihood in experiencing bacterial infection-related hospitalizations and severe viral infections, respectively.
The investigators concluded that clinicians should communicate with high-risk patients — including those with a high BMI and those with diabetes — about the benefits of weight management as part of infection prevention.
Read more: EASD 2024
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