Metabolic Syndrome and Its Components in Patients with COVID-19: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Mortality. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Recent meta-analysis studies have reported that metabolic comorbidities such as diabetes, obesity, dyslipidaemia and hypertension are associated with higher risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and mortality in patients with COVID-19. This meta-analysis aims to investigate the relationship between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components with SARS and mortality in COVID-19 patients. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in the several databases up until 1 September 2021. Primary observational longitudinal studies published in peer review journals were selected. Two independent reviewers performed title and abstract screening, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Results: The random effects meta-analysis showed that MetS was significantly associated with SARS with a pooled OR (95% CI) of 3.21 (2.88-3.58) and mortality with a pooled OR (95% CI) of 2.32 (1.16-4.63). According to SARS, the pooled OR for MetS was 2.19 (1.71-2.67), p < 0.001; significantly higher than the hypertension component. With regard to mortality, although the pooled OR for MetS was greater than for its individual components, no significant differences were observed. Conclusions: this meta-analysis of cohort studies, showed that MetS is better associated to SARS and mortality in COVID-19 patients than its individual components.