AUTHOR=Li Tingxin , He Baoming , Liu Yuping , Wang Chen 

TITLE=Accumulated subcutaneous fat in abdomen is associated with long COVID-19 symptoms among non-hospitalized patients: a prospective observational study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2024.1410559

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2024.1410559

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Introduction</title><p>Long COVID-19 symptoms may have a variety of potential overlapping causes. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential correlation between abdominal adipose tissue and long COVID-19 symptoms in non-hospitalized patients in China.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>This is a prospective observational study. 424 subjects, recovered from COVID-19 for 2–4 weeks, were enrolled and 408 subjects were finished the follow-up investigation at baseline, 8<sup>th</sup> week and 12<sup>th</sup> week. Physical measurements were collected. Kaplan-Meier analysis and cox regression analysis were carried out to assess the correlation.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>A total of 72 subjects reported the long COVID-19 symptoms. The adjusted Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression analysis revealed a significant correlation with accumulated subcutaneous fat (SFA ≥ 2.0 dm<sup>2</sup>) and the long COVID-19 symptoms (<italic>HR</italic> = 2.63, <italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.001 for male, <italic>HR</italic> = 1.52, P = 0.048 for female). However, overweight and central obesity showed positive correlation only in women.</p></sec><sec><title>Discussion</title><p>This study suggested that accumulated subcutaneous fat in abdomen (SFA ≥ 2.0 dm<sup>2</sup>) was an important positive factor associated with long COVID-19 symptoms among Chinese non-hospitalized patients. Large investigation and prospective studies are needed to validate the correlation in the future.</p></sec>