COVID-19 Symptoms Can Prolong Seasonal Flu Infection Symptoms and Recovery Times Among Obese African American Female Population.

According to several studies, obesity increases rates of metabolic syndrome plus other comorbidities like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. However, little evidence exists as to whether obesity assists in the prolongation of COVID-19 and seasonal flu-like symptoms especially among African American 55-74-year age groups. The purpose of this study is to show that COVID-19 symptoms can prolong recovery times and symptoms of seasonal flu-infected obese African Americans. The aim of the study is to investigate risk factors which include modifiable (i.e., obesity) and non-modifiable (i.e., age, race) effect on prolongation and recovery times for some inpatient COVID-19 and seasonal flu-infected African American from a single hospital in Detroit, MI.

Higher Obesity Trends Among African Americans Are Associated with Increased Mortality in Infected COVID-19 Patients Within the City of Detroit.

As the city of Detroit raids itself of deaths by shifting from homicides, COVID-19 infection continues to harrow the city with more deaths. From March 19 to May 15, more Detroiters died in 2 months than were killed in 2 years of city homicides. African Americans or Blacks (highest-risk phenotypes) developing COVID-19 infection are more likely to die disproportionately. The confluence of diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and the higher prevalence of obesity among Blacks have provided the needed environment for viruses like COVID-19 to thrive and cause serious infections. The purpose of this study is to connect mortality rates from COVID-19 infection to increasing obesity trends among African Americans within the city of Detroit. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS ver. 23. Results showed that the highest mortality rates among African Americans occurred more in the obese individuals infected with COVID-19 in the city of Detroit. Out of 1930 deaths from COVID-19 infections, 733 deaths were due to obesity alone in patients without reported comorbid conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Mortality rate for both male and female African Americans amounted to a total of 11.9%. Thirty-eight percent of reported COVID-19-infected African Americans were obese.