The “identikit” of subject with obesity and COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough

Authors

  • Giovanna Muscogiuri Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Endocrinology Unit, University Medical School of Naples, Naples, Italy; Tel: +390817463779; FAX: +300817463688; E-mail: giovanna.muscogiuri@gmail.com https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8809-4931
  • Luigi Barrea Dipartimento di Scienze Umanistiche, Università Telematica Pegaso, 80143 Napoli, Italy https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9054-456X
  • Ludovica Verde Centro Italiano per la cura e il Benessere del paziente con Obesità (C.I.B.O), Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Endocrinology Unit, University Medical School of Naples, Naples, Italy https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4583-8283
  • Claudia Vetrani Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Endocrinology Unit, University Medical School of Naples, Naples, Italy https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8335-5939
  • Silvia Savastano Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Endocrinology Unit, University Medical School of Naples, Naples, Italy; Centro Italiano per la cura e il Benessere del paziente con Obesità (C.I.B.O), Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Endocrinology Unit, University Medical School of Naples, Naples, Italy https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3211-4307
  • Annamaria Colao Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Endocrinology Unit, University Medical School of Naples, Naples, Italy; Centro Italiano per la cura e il Benessere del paziente con Obesità (C.I.B.O), Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Endocrinology Unit, University Medical School of Naples, Naples, Italy; Cattedra Unesco “Educazione alla salute e allo sviluppo sostenibile”, University Medical School of Naples, Naples, Italy https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4049-2559

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2022-4864

Keywords:

COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2;, vaccine breakthrough, obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension

Abstract

The mRNA coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines were highly effective in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19, hospitalization, severe disease, and death. However, a minority of vaccinated individuals might become infected and experience significant morbidity. Risk factors of COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough in obesity have not been elucidated. Thus, we aimed to portray the subjects with obesity developing COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough despite vaccination. Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) mRNA vaccines have been highly effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19, hospitalization, severe illness and death. However, a minority of vaccinated individuals may become infected and experience considerable morbidity. The risk factors for COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough in obesity have not been elucidated. Therefore, we aimed to depict individuals with obesity who develop COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough despite vaccination. An online questionnaire was distributed to respondents via a snowball sampling method among subjects with obesity belonging to Italian Associations for people living with obesity aged 18 years and above. Two hundred and thirty-five respondents (44.5±14 years; BMI: 33.3±7.2 kg/m2) were included in the study. COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough was noted in 34 % of respondents. A higher prevalence of grade III obesity was detected in subjects with COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough compared to subjects that did not (27.5 % vs 13.5 %; p=0.014). In addition, a significant lower prevalence of respondents that completed third dose were found in respondents with COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough compared with respondents that did not develop it (33.8 % vs 72.9 %; p<0.001). After stratifying respondents with COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough according to the completed doses of vaccine, we found that, although no differences were detected in terms of clinical manifestations of COVID-19, there was a significant higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes and hypertension in respondents that completed third doses compared to respondents that completed first and second doses. In conclusion, COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough was more common in subjects with grade III obesity. The presence of type 2 diabetes and hypertension could counteract the immune potentiating effects of vaccine booster against COVID-19.

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Published

2022-04-08

How to Cite

Muscogiuri, G., Barrea, L., Verde, L., Vetrani, C., Savastano, S., & Colao, A. (2022). The “identikit” of subject with obesity and COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough. EXCLI Journal, 21, 687–694. https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2022-4864

Issue

Vol. 21 (2022)

Section

Original articles

Categories

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Copyright (c) 2022 Giovanna Muscogiuri, Luigi Barrea, Ludovica Verde, Claudia Vetrani, Silvia Savastano, Annamaria Colao

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