Weight loss in patients with COVID-19 and Influenza in comorbidity with NCDs: a pilot prospective clinical trial

BackgroundCOVID and Influenza with non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs) complicate the diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and increase mortality rate. The aim: to evaluate the effects of the fast weight loss on clinic and laboratory inflammation profile, metabolic profile, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and body composition in patients with COVID and Influenza in comorbidity with NCDs.MethodsA 6-week open, pilot prospective clinical trial including 62 adult patients with COVID (n=27) and influenza (n=35) in comorbidity with T2D, hypertension, and NASH. Overweight in 33 patients (53.2%) with BMI 28.14±0.39 kg/m2, and 29 patients without overweight with BMI 23.37 ± 0.38 kg/m2. T2D in 26 (41.9%); Hypertension in 38 (61.3%) (incl. 12 patients with T2D); NASH in 51 patients (82.2%) (incl. 8 patients with NASH, T2D and Hypertension; 6 patients with NASH and T2D; 18 patients with NASH and Hypertension; 19 patients with only NASH). Primary endpoints: Clinic/infectious/inflammation tests for COVID and Influenza; weight loss during 14 days. Secondary endpoints: fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, blood insulin; systolic/diastolic BP; blood lipids; ALT, AST, chest CT-scan.ResultsThe patients with overweight lost -12,4% from baseline or BMI= -4.2 kg/m2, and patients without overweight lost -9,14% from baseline or BMI= -2.2 kg/m2(−9.7±0.7 kg vs. - 6.4±0.6 kg, respectively;PPSputum production increased in 1.0-1.5 liter/day on 2-3 days, decreased in 7-9 days. Body temperature normalized in 6-9 days. On 3-5 days, in most patients their urine became turbid/muddy/intensively colored. Urine microscopy showed organic and non-organic salts, and leukocyturia (20-35/sight).White blood cells, lymphocytes, NLR normalized at 14 days (PPCOVID and Influenza were a negative in >96.3% patients at 14-day. Systolic/diastolic BP decreased (161.3±1.31/101.6±0.85 vs. 118.3±0.46/80.89±0.66,P9/L) at 14-day of treatment (238.5±5.8, ×109/L) (P9/L) (PPPConclusionsThe fast weight loss is clinical/laboratory benefit in treatment of patients with COVID-19 and Influenza in comorbidity with T2D, hypertension, and NASH.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.govNCT05635539. Registered 1 December 2022.