COVID-19 and obesity: the meeting of two pandemics

ABSTRACT COVID-19 and obesity are two pandemic diseases that the world is currently facing. Both activate the immune system and mediate inflammation. A sequence of disease phases in patients with severe COVID-19 results in a cytokine storm, which amplifies the subclinical inflammation that already exists in patients with obesity. Pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemotactic factors increase insulin resistance in obesity. Therefore, a greater systemic inflammatory response is establishe, along with an increased risk of thrombotic phenomena and hyperglycemic conditions. These changes further impair pulmonary, cardiac, hepatic, and renal functions, in addition to hindering glycemic control in people with diabetes and pre-diabetes. This review explains the pathophysiological mechanisms of these two pandemic diseases, provides a deeper understanding of this harmful interaction and lists possible therapeutic strategies for this risk group.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Brandão,Simone Cristina Soares, Godoi,Emmanuelle Tenório Albuquerque Madruga, Cordeiro,Lúcia Helena de Oliveira, Bezerra,Camila Silva, Ramos,Júlia de Oliveira Xavier, Arruda,Gustavo Freitas Alves de, Lins,Esdras Marques
Format: Digital revista
Language:English
Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Endocrinologia e Metabologia 2021
Online Access:http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2359-39972021000100003
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