Gurugram: Diabetes, heart ailments common comorbidities in Covid victims

Among the first 100 deaths in Gurugram due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), diabetes, hypertension and other heart-related ailments were found to be the three

Among the first 100 deaths in Gurugram due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), diabetes, hypertension and other heart-related ailments were found to be the three most common comorbidities, according to data compiled by the district health department.

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At least 17 of the first 100 persons died as a result of complications due to diabetes, while at least 16 had a history of coronary ailments or events, as per the data, while at least 12 had hypertension (high blood pressure).

These figures form the basis of a pattern which shows that 45% of the district’s first 100 patients who died had ailments which had some impact on the heart such as diabetes, hypertension or other related ailments.

The district’s Covid-19 death toll had reached the 100-mark on July 5.

Another 20 of the 100 fatalities had developed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), district health department data shows.

“However, ARDS is not a comorbidity, per se. It is a symptom brought about due to infection. The comorbidity here is impaired respiratory function, but some of those who developed ARDS were also diabetic or hypertensive, making their condition prone to aggravation,” said Dr Jai Prakash, district surveillance officer, Gurugram, and member of the district death audit committee.

Other comorbidities recorded by the death audit committee in Gurugram include cancer, or acute leukaemia (in five of the deaths), multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (in 10 deaths), and pneumonia (in six deaths).

The remaining 14 deaths were attributed to a range of other underlying conditions, including intracranial haemorrhages, lower respiratory tract infections and others.

Of the first 100 fatalities, men accounted for 78 deaths, while 22 were women. According to the health department’s data, of the 100, the age group of 61-70 years saw 26 fatalities (including seven women), followed by 18 deaths (including two women) in the 71-80 years age group.

Dr Piyush Goel, a pulmonologist at a private hospital in the city, said, “These numbers are not surprising. Diabetes, hypertension, and cardiac problems are among the most widespread comorbidities in India. In fact, a majority of the patients requiring intensive medical care usually have one of these illnesses, or a combination of them.”

He said that it is important for people with these ailments to stay at home, for now, to protect themselves from the pandemic.

Gurugram’s chief medical officer Dr Virender Yadav reiterated that diabetics, and those with hypertension or cardiac issues, should exercise extra precaution.

“There is more and more evidence that Covid-19 isn’t just a disease that attacks your lungs. It can lead to a variety of other complications, impacting kidneys and other organs. When the body’s immune system works overtime, it adds a lot of stress on organs other than the lungs, causing conditions like inflammation of tissue,” he said. Comorbidities also affect the body’s natural ability to produce antibodies, and bring down the level of ACE2 receptors, which are essential for a healthy immune system, he added.

“A comorbidity essentially compromises a patient’s ability to withstand the added stress, which can lead to entire organ systems shutting down, causing death,” the CMO added.

Between July 5 and 18, the district reported 14 more Covid-related deaths. While health officials did not provide data on comorbidities for these 14 deaths, they said a significant number of them were either diabetic or had hypertension, while at least one had suffered a coronary event in the past.

Till July 18, the district had reported a total of 7,594 Covid-19 cases. With 114 deaths, the case-fatality ratio (CFR) for Gurugram now stands at 1.5%.