Survey: Most Covid victims suffered from diabetes

Karam Prakash

Tribune News Service

Patiala, December 3

Diabetes has emerged as the single biggest contributing comorbidity factor behind Covid-19 deaths in Punjab.

Around 88 per cent of the deceased had diabetes, the state Health Department said.

Dr Rajesh Bhaskar, State Nodal Officer, said diabetes was one of the most prevalent comorbidity factor behind Covid deaths in the state. He said as per a ‘death audit’ by a team of PGI doctors, diabetes was followed by hypertension and kidney ailments.

He said, “Though the audit team is yet to submit the final report, the findings have already been discussed in meetings. The team had conducted an audit of around 3,000 Covid deaths.”

Bhaskar said a large number of Covid deaths had multiple comorbid conditions, which reportedly became the cause of their deaths. Health experts said patients with comorbidities were immunocompromised, therefore, they were at a higher risk.

The committee has also observed that patients, in majority of the cases, had reported late to government facilities and consequently, their health had already deteriorated to a severe condition before they reached the hospitals.

Regarding the second Covid wave, Dr Manjit Singh, Director, Punjab Health Department, said, “We are fully prepared for the second wave as we have already recruited 107 specialists and 367 medical officers. Besides, testing will be increased to above 30,000 per day.”