People who are overweight do have a higher risk of becoming seriously ill with coronavirus, but if they are admitted to intensive care, the extra kilos do not impact upon their survival chances, the Volkskrant said on Wednesday.

The paper bases its claim on unpublished research focusing on over 2,600 patients who spent time in 82 IC units at Dutch hospitals in the first half of last year.

‘Once in IC, all groups have the same chances,’ research leader and Radboud teaching hospital professor Peter Pickkers told the paper.

Some 80% of coronavirus patients who end up in IC are overweight, according to hospital figures, and as yet it is unclear why. But this new research, the VK says, make it clear that they are not more ill than those with a healthy weight when admitted.

Tegen intuïtie in? Onderzoek hoogleraar Peter Pickkers @ICresearch_Rumc @radboudumc @Radboud_Uni #COVID19 #IC Overgewicht bij covid maakt voor prognose op ic niets uit https://t.co/DTPUSYhz1L via @volkskrant

— Radboudumc wetenschap (@radboudumc_weet) March 31, 2021

The research shows that between 25% and 30% of people admitted to IC with coronavirus will die, whatever their weight, and when underlying factors such as age and other health conditions are taken into account.