by Jackie Sinnerton
Premium Content Severely obese Queenslanders are eligible for priority COVID-19 vaccination with transplant and cancer patients. Adults with a BMI of 35 or over - classified as severely obese can fill in an eligibility declaration form at their GP or vaccination clinic to join the phase 1b rollout. They qualify as adults with underlying medical conditions. It is estimated that 460,000 Queenslanders - 12Â per cent - are severely obese. It very much makes sense for those with serious weight problems to come forward for the vaccine. Obesity puts people at greater risk of developing severe COVID-19 symptoms, second only to old age, Dr Bruce Willett, Queensland chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners said.
Obese or overweight patients at high risk for having worse COVID-19 outcomes
Patients who are overweight or obese have more severe COVID-19 and are highly likely to require invasive respiratory support, according to a new international study.
The research, led by the Murdoch Children s Research Institute (MCRI) and The University of Queensland and published in
Diabetes Care, found obese or overweight patients are at high risk for having worse COVID-19 outcomes. They are also more likely to require oxygen and invasive mechanical ventilation compared to those with a healthy weight.
MCRI researcher Dr Danielle Longmore said the findings, which highlighted the relationship between obesity and increased COVID-19 disease burden, showed the need to urgently introduce strategies to address the complex socio-economic drivers of obesity, and public policy measures such as restrictions on junk food advertising.
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Health researchers have moved to quell concern in Pacific countries about the extremely rare but likely link between the AstraZeneca vaccine and blood clots.
The Murdoch Children s Research Institute measured the statistical likelihood of people experiencing blood clots if entire adult populations were vaccinated with AstraZeneca.
It found in most Pacific countries, it would be statistically unlikely that any cases of clotting would occur because their populations are small according to current data.
In Papua New Guinea, which is experiencing widespread community transmission of COVID-19, the researchers said between 11 and 29 people in the whole country may experience blood clots if everyone was vaccinated.
16 April 2021 COVID-19 patients who are overweight or obese have more severe symptoms and are highly likely to require invasive respiratory support, according to a new international study. The research, led by The University of Queensland and the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), found obese patients had a 73 per cent greater chance of needing invasive mechanical ventilation and were more likely to require oxygen. UQ’s Dr Kirsty Short said similar but more modest results were seen in overweight patients, but no link was found between being overweight or obese and dying in hospital from COVID-19. “These findings have wide implications given that 40 percent of the global population is overweight or obese,” Dr Short said.
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