To examine the association between obesity and the risk of infection-related hospitalization and mortality, particularly focusing on various types of infections.
Key Findings:
Adults with class III obesity had nearly threefold higher risk of infection-related hospitalization or death compared to those with healthy weight, particularly for skin and soft tissue and viral infections.
Obesity overall was associated with approximately 1.7 times the risk of severe infection.
Obesity accounted for 8.6% of infection-related deaths globally in 2018, 15.0% in 2021, and 10.8% in 2023.
Weight loss from obesity was linked to a modest reduction in infection risk.
Interpretation:
Adult obesity significantly increases the risk of severe infections and related mortality across various pathogens and populations, highlighting the need for targeted public health interventions.
Limitations:
Observational design limits causal inference.
BMI may not fully capture adiposity or metabolic dysfunction.
Self-reported height and weight may introduce measurement error, potentially affecting results.
Severe infections identified may miss outpatient-managed cases.
Cohorts may not be fully representative of the population.
Conclusion:
Approximately one in ten infection-related deaths worldwide may be attributable to adult obesity, underscoring its role as a significant risk factor that necessitates public health attention.
