Obesity And Severity In Patients With COVID-19: A Scoping Review Protocol

Abstract Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), caused by the SARS-CoV-2 strain, was first identified in late 2019, in China. A greater number of countries were affected in 2020, with a consequent increase in the disease's epidemiological curve. The outcomes of patients affected by the virus can worsen, developing acute respiratory failure and other serious complications, especially when related to older individuals and people of all ages with obesity and comorbidities. Some studies have shown that obese infected with COVID-19 had a high frequency risk of hospitalization in the Intensive Care Unit and the need to use Invasive Mechanical Ventilation, in addition to the association between a higher death rate. Thus, obese patients tend to have a more severe course of COVID-19. In this sense, this review aims to synthesize the evidence in the literature that associates COVID-19 and the severity of clinical outcomes in infected obese patients. Methods: This protocol will include all study articles that can be used as instruments to assess the severity of clinical outcomes in obese patients infected by 2019-nCoV. There will be no time limitation when searching for articles. Studies in any environment or country for inclusion will be considered. Discussion: There are still not enough studies to characterize the evidence and its strength in the severity of clinical outcomes of the disease. Therefore, given the need for early detection of the possible implications and treatment for patients with obesity, the evidence will be useful for directing the conduct and optimization of therapies in these patients by the multiprofessional teams.Scoping review registration: Open Science Framework: https://osf.io/xrkec