Benefits of bariatric surgery prior to SARS CoV 2 infection in modulating the response to COVID‐19

Landecho, MF Manuel Fortún; Frühbeck, Gena

As of October 2020, the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), responsible for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID‐19), has infected over 33million individuals and killed over one million people worldwide. (https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html accessed October 1 2020) Obesity and its complications are linked to severe forms of COVID‐19, favouring an increased hospitalization and mortality rate. Despite being the gold‐standard for the treatment of selected individuals with severe obesity, there is scarce information on whether or not bariatric surgery modifies the prognosis of people living with obesity in the current COVID‐19 pandemic. Bel Lassen and colleagues have carried out the first study with a high number of patients in their sample, bringing light into this area of uncertainty. The authors provide evidence of the importance of diabetes itself as a risk factor for severe COVID‐19.