Millions of patients suffering from various complicated diseases including kidney, diabetes, asthma and high blood pressure are at high risk in the country. The mortality rate from coronavirus (COVID-19) infection among the people suffering from chronic diseases is higher than that of other people, experts said.
Abdul Motin, 64, has been suffering from diabetes and kidney diseases for many years, and last year, when his situation went beyond control, he was admitted in the capital’s Birdem Hospital and hospitalized for 15 days. Doctors suggested he get a check up at the hospital every two months. Although he had a regular medical check-up date in April, he could not come to Dhaka from Tangail due to countrywide shutdown.
Like Abdul Motin, there are millions of people suffering from different diseases like cancer, kidney, diabetes and respiratory problems being deprived of treatment. Medical experts advised these patients to stay at home and use drugs through telemedicine service or consult doctors in their locality. Besides, patients with complications are not going to hospital fearing the coronavirus infection.
At least 84 people have died of coronavirus infection until April 18, 50 percent of them were over 60 years of age. More than 76 percent of people who died of coronavirus infection were also suffering from different diseases like diabetes, respiratory problems and hypertension. In Bangladesh, the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) has not published any statistics of coronavirus infected deaths related to prevalence of diabetes.
Senior scientific officer of IEDCR, ASM Alamgir told Bangladesh Post, “Although the proportionate rate of age has been mentioned in coronavirus cases, it is not yet known which other diseases they were suffering from. At this time we have preserved the history of other diseases of the dead, but that information has not yet been verified.”
However, worldwide mortality rate from coronavirus is higher among the people older in age and suffering from other diseases, he added. In this regard, associate professor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University’s endocrinology department Shahzada Selim said, “Those who are particularly vulnerable to coronavirus infection are diabetics, patients with heart failure, kidney failure, asthma or chronic bronchitis. Apart from this, patients receiving chemotherapy and whose immunity is low are more vulnerable. So they should be more careful.”
In this situation, experts also worry about regular medical care for patients suffering from cancer, kidney and diabetes. Vice-President of Bangladesh Cancer Society and former President of Bangladesh Society of Radiation Oncologists, Dr Sheikh Golam Mostafa said, “According to the World Health Organization, there are five to six lakh cancer patients in Bangladesh. Every year, 50,000 to 60,000 people die of cancer.”
“Cancer spreads in the entire human body gradually. If the patient does not get treatment, the situation will be more dangerous,” he added. According to the kidney foundation, about 25 million people in Bangladesh suffer from kidney problems. Every year, 40,000 patients have kidney failure, and about 30,000 people die every year.
About 11 percent of people with diabetes suffer from kidney problems. There are 30 million high blood pressure patients in the country. These patients are also more likely to have kidney problems. According to the International Diabetes Federation, about 8.4 million people are suffering from diabetes in Bangladesh. However, according to the Diabetes Association survey, this number is double.
Professor Mostafa said that those suffering from kidney, cancer or diabetes have low immunity. Because of this, such patients are at higher risk of death due to coronavirus infection.