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Abstract Background: Apart from the well-known severe effects of COVID-19 virus on the respiratory system like acute respiratory distress syndrome and cytokine storm, COVID-19 is thought to cause more damage in patients with chronic disease like hypertension and diabetes mellitus and obese. Objective: to assess whether obesity can worsen the outcomes in Covid-19 infected adults or not through performing a meta-analysis. Method: A comprehensive meta analysis was conducted using the PRISMA checklist guidelines referring to the PECO question: are obese COVID-19 patients at a higher risk for unfavorable morbidity outcomes than non-obese? Quality of the selected publications was assessed using New Castle Ottawa Scale. Results: Both Obesity and Overweight were significantly associated with increased length of hospital stay in COVID-19 infected patients. Adult patients with COVID-19 infection are more likely to be admitted to the ICU when they are morbidly obese. Regarding the need of obese patients with COVID-19 infection for mechanical ventilation revealed that statistically significant difference was seen between morbidly obese people with a BMI of more than 40 kg/m2 and those with a normal weight BMI (18.5 to 24.5) kg/m2. Obesity had no association with increased risk of mortality in COVID-19 infected individuals. On the contrary, underweight was significantly associated with increased risk of mortality in COVID-19 infected patients. Conclusion: The obesity paradox was illustrated in a low risk of mortality among obese COVID 19 patients however the need for mechanical ventilation was more pronouced among morbidly obese patients. Keeping a healthy weight will always be a fort against complication of infection. |