What is the link between Bariatric Surgery and COVID-19? A study among patients who have undergone Weight Loss Surgery was conducted by the Cleveland Clinic. The results were published in the journal of Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases,  showing that patients with bariatric surgery have a significant lower risk of being hospitalized and intensive care unit admission, after being infected with COVID-19.

During the COVID-19 pandemic Researchers have reached the conclusion that obesity is a risk factor of  severe complications. And the Journal of the American Medical Association lists heart disease, cancer, and COVID-19 as the leading causes of death in the US. Obesity can be a contributing factor for all three.

Obesity is a multifactorial disease that debilitates the immune system. Obesity creates an chronic inflammatory state that causes excessive creation of cytokines, which are small proteins that play an important role in the immune response.

Obesity also condition the respiratory system. Patients who suffer from obesity tent to  have underlying lung conditions, such as obesity hypoventilation syndrome and/or sleep apnea, that can worsen the outcomes of COVID-19 pneumonia.

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) states that more than 70% of U.S. adults are overweight or have obesity, which may increase the risk of severe illness from the coronavirus.

Improving your health is our top priority. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve monitored the latest scientific and medical updates and adjusted our protocol to provide our patients with a safe and healthy experience. We are proud to partner with only accredited hospitals, and are confident when saying that we offer the safest patient experience in Weight Loss Medical Tourism.

References:

Aminian, A., et al. (2020) Association of prior metabolic and bariatric surgery with severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in patients with obesity. Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases. doi.org/10.1016/j.soard.2020.10.0