Introduction

To date, there are no effective methods to predict the risk of Covid 19 infection for overweight and / or obese individuals. It has been shown that the use of a simple molecular measurement in a saliva sample, in association with the measurement of appropriate anthropometric parameters, is useful in predicting the outcome of COVID-19 infection in a susceptible population such as the obese or subjects. overweight while suggesting health care needs for COVID-19 patients. In this field, the patent conceived includes an in vitro method to predict the risk or susceptibility to develop or the prognosis of a Covid-19 infection in a population at risk such as that represented by overweight and / or obese subjects.

Technical features

A team of researchers from the Universities of Teramo, Trieste and L’Aquila has developed a method that allows to define the risk of severity of COVID-19 infection in populations at risk (obese and/or overweight). Using a simple molecular assessment from a saliva sample, together with the appropriate anthropometric parameters measurements (BMI, Body Mass Index; NC, neck circumference and the ratio between NC / Height) it is possible to both predict the outcome of COVID-19 infection and predict the specific healthcare requirements of the infected. The method also makes it possible to correct factors, for example via a dietary approach, at the basis of the regulation of gene expression, playing an important role in modifying the clinical impact of the disease. A preliminary analysis, conducted at a nutrition center on a sample of people, confirmed the high correlation between the parameters analysed and the risk of contracting the disease.

Possible Applications

• Diagnostic kit for predicting the risk of COVID-19 infection in overweight and/or obese subjects;
• Kit to monitor the efficacy of a preventive nutritional integration in subjects at risk, in order to limit the infection.

Advantages

• Reduction of the possibility of contracting COVID19 infection for overweight and / or obese subjects;
• Development of nutraceuticals capable of reverting the molecular alterations observed in subjects at risk.