Obesity as a Risk Factor Against COVID-19

In late 2019, in Wuhan City, China, SARS-CoV2 was identified as the cause of an outbreak of acute respiratory illness called COVID-19 representing its most frequent lethal complication. Objective: To analyze, by means of a literature review, obesity as a risk factor for COVID-19. Methodology: A systematic review of the literature was carried out in scientific databases such as: Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS); Virtual Health Library (VHL): Wiley Online Library and Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), Scielo, Scopus. The search terms included the study variables. Results: According to the analysis of 51 articles, it was determined that obese, male and elderly patients are the profile most prone to present respiratory system failures associated with COVID-19. Their pictures are aggravated by immunological and hormonal physiopathology typical of obesity; in addition, comorbidity in which there is diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and obstructive pulmonary disease aggravates the picture of COVID-19 in obese patients. Conclusions: The presence of obesity is indeed a risk factor against COVID-19 infection, since it increases the possibility of suffering severe respiratory conditions.