Image analysis software developer Perspectum Diagnostics said that analysis of a large U.K. database has shown that obese patients with fatty liver have a higher risk of developing a severe COVID-19 infection.
Scientists from Perspectum used the firm's LiverMultiScan software to analyze MR images of over 40,000 participants from the U.K. BioBank in order to characterize liver disorders in this population. After combining this imaging data with results of COVID-19 testing, the researchers were then able to identify the risk factors associated with symptomatic COVID-19 cases, according to the company.
The research is currently undergoing peer review, but a preprint version is available on medRxiv.org.
