Most COVID Hospitalizations Linked to Four Conditions

Since the beginning of the pandemic, studies have shown that chronic conditions put people at higher risk for severe complications from COVID-19. Researchers have now identified the four cardiometabolic disorders that can be attributed to two-thirds of COVID-19 hospitalizations. These include obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure) and heart failure.

A research team from Tufts University developed a model to better understand how these conditions affect hospitalizations in the U.S. Results were published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. The mathematical model helped to estimate the number of hospitalizations that could have been avoided without these four underlying conditions.

An estimated 906,849 COVID-19 hospitalizations had occurred in U.S. adults as of November 2020. Based on the Tufts University model, approximately 21% of hospitalizations were attributable to type 2 diabetes, 30% to obesity, 26% to hypertension, and 12% to heart failure. More than one of these conditions are often present in the same person so the data isn’t simply additive. When combined, the model suggested that 64% of hospitalizations could have been avoided if less people suffered these four cardiometabolic conditions.

Having one of these conditions increases the risk for severe complications and hospitalizations from COVID-19. The study showed that the presence of one of the four cardiometabolic conditions impairs the body’s immune response. In the absence of these conditions, such individuals could be still infected but experience less severity of illness.

Meghan O’Hearn, co-leader of this research study stated,

“Clinicians should educate their patients who may be at risk and consider promoting preventive lifestyle measures, such as improved dietary quality and physical activity, to improve overall cardiometabolic health and potentially minimize the risk for coronavirus disease 2019 severity.”

One way to educate patients about chronic conditions is to use an easy-to-use learning management system in order to automatically drip out content related to these four cardiometabolic conditions to those who may be at risk. It would be advisable to implement one solution where you can both educate those who may be at risk and also provide guidance and support related to preventive lifestyle measures, as well as monitor patient behaviors and body measurements remotely all at the same time, with less work involved and less practice time.

One such solution is BodySite which comes equipped with a learning management system, over sixty stock preventive lifestyle plans, built-in patient education content, video hosting, calorie, body and activity trackers, remote patient monitoring (RPM) and the ability to integrate devices. BodySite’s stock library of plans include weight loss; diet plans such as DASH, Ketogenic, and Low FODMAPs, among others; mindfulness for stress reduction; as well as exercise programs like stretching/yoga, basic walking and at home fitness.

Improving an individual’s health may help to reduce the risk of COVID-19 related complications and/or hospitalizations. Empowering your patients against such risks starts with you, their healthcare provider. Learn more today by watching our demo at bodysite.com/demo.