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Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
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1 to 6 of 6 Research Studies DisplayedBorgatti AC, Crockett KB, Jacob AE
Correlates of psychological distress among adults with obesity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The objective of this study was to evaluate changes in stress and loneliness among participants with obesity who were engaged in weight loss self-management in the US during COVID-19, and to identify risk factors that may increase psychosocial distress during this period. Participants completed an online survey about social, economic and health behavior changes during COVID-19 and their relationship to changes in perceived stress and loneliness. Results indicated that stress and loneliness increased two months into the COVID-19 pandemic-related shutdown. Factors associated with increased stress and/or loneliness included higher body mass index, social distancing, alcohol intake, and working from home. The authors concluded that ongoing attention to psychosocial well-being among individuals with obesity remains imperative both during the ongoing pandemic and afterwards.
AHRQ-funded; HS013852.
Citation: Borgatti AC, Crockett KB, Jacob AE .
Correlates of psychological distress among adults with obesity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Psychol Health 2022 Dec; 37(12):1547-64. doi: 10.1080/08870446.2022.2038790..
Keywords: COVID-19, Obesity, Stress, Social Stigma, Behavioral Health
Wu AJ, Aris IM, Hivert MF
Association of changes in obesity prevalence with the COVID-19 pandemic in youth in Massachusetts.
Using the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s disease surveillance system (MDPHnet), the authors examined obesity prevalence in 3 periods from 2018 to 2020 in a fixed cohort of children and adolescents. They found that, although childhood obesity prevalence was rising prior to COVID-19, the prevalence increased by a greater difference in Massachusetts youth during the COVID-19 pandemic. They observed greater increases in obesity prevalence in Black and Hispanic youth, particularly in boys aged 6 to 11 years.
AHRQ-funded; HS000063.
Citation: Wu AJ, Aris IM, Hivert MF .
Association of changes in obesity prevalence with the COVID-19 pandemic in youth in Massachusetts.
JAMA Pediatr 2022 Feb;176(2):198-201. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2021.5095..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, COVID-19, Obesity
Tignanelli CJ, Bramante CT, Dutta NT
Metabolic surgery may protect against admission for COVID-19 in persons with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) disease causes significant morbidity and mortality through increased inflammation and thrombosis. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are states of chronic inflammation and indicate advanced metabolic disease. The purpose of this observational study was to characterize the risk of hospitalization for COVID-19 in patients with NAFLD/NASH and evaluate the mitigating effect of various metabolic treatments.
AHRQ-funded; HS026379.
Citation: Tignanelli CJ, Bramante CT, Dutta NT .
Metabolic surgery may protect against admission for COVID-19 in persons with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
Surg Obes Relat Dis 2021 Oct;17(10):1780-86. doi: 10.1016/j.soard.2021.05.029..
Keywords: COVID-19, Surgery, Obesity: Weight Management, Obesity
Borgatti AC, Schneider-Worthington CR, Stager LM
The COVID-19 pandemic and weight management: effective behaviors and pandemic-specific risk factors.
This study evaluated weight management efforts among weight loss program participants during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings showed that most online survey participants reported gaining weight during COVID-19. Further, loneliness and working remotely increased the difficulty of weight management behaviors. However, staying active, planning and tracking food consumption, choosing healthy foods, and reducing emotional eating protected against weight gain during this time.
AHRQ-funded; HS013852.
Citation: Borgatti AC, Schneider-Worthington CR, Stager LM .
The COVID-19 pandemic and weight management: effective behaviors and pandemic-specific risk factors.
Obes Res Clin Pract 2021 Sep-Oct;15(5):518-21. doi: 10.1016/j.orcp.2021.06.007..
Keywords: COVID-19, Obesity, Obesity: Weight Management, Risk
Bramante CT, Buse J, Tamaritz L
Outpatient metformin use is associated with reduced severity of COVID-19 disease in adults with overweight or obesity.
This study investigated whether outpatient metformin use is associated with reduced severity of COVID-19 in adults with overweight or obesity. Metformin can decrease interleukin-6 and tumor-necrosis factor- α, which appears to contribute to COVID-19 mortality. The authors conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of electronic health record (EHR) data that was pooled across multiple EHR systems from 12 hospitals and 60 primary care clinics in the Midwest between March and December 2020. Inclusion criteria included data for BMI > 25 kg/m(2); age range 30-85 years; and a positive SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction test. Metformin was associated with a decrease in mortality from COVID-19 and a nonsignificant decrease in hospital admission in the overall cohort.
AHRQ-funded; HS026379.
Citation: Bramante CT, Buse J, Tamaritz L .
Outpatient metformin use is associated with reduced severity of COVID-19 disease in adults with overweight or obesity.
J Med Virol 2021 Jul;93(7):4273-79. doi: 10.1002/jmv.26873..
Keywords: COVID-19, Infectious Diseases, Obesity, Medication, Treatments, Outcomes
Shipe ME, Beeghly-Fadiel A, Deppen SA
Modeling the impact of delaying bariatric surgery due to COVID-19: a decision analysis.
In this study, the investigators developed a decision analysis model to evaluate risks and benefits of delaying scheduled bariatric surgery during the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Their base case was a 45-year-old female with diabetes and a body mass index of 45 kg/m(2). They compared immediate with delayed surgery after 6 months to allow for COVID-19 prevalence to decrease. The investigators found that immediate and delayed bariatric surgeries after 6 months resulted in similar 20-year overall survival.
AHRQ-funded; HS026122.
Citation: Shipe ME, Beeghly-Fadiel A, Deppen SA .
Modeling the impact of delaying bariatric surgery due to COVID-19: a decision analysis.
Obes Surg 2021 Mar;31(3):1387-91. doi: 10.1007/s11695-020-05054-6..
Keywords: Obesity: Weight Management, Obesity, COVID-19, Surgery, Shared Decision Making