Almost 90% of Covid-19 admissions involve Comorbidities – There is a strong association with smoking and severity of COVID

There is a strong association with smoking and severity of COVID-19. This is of importance because India is ranked second in the number of tobacco users and first in usage of smokeless tobacco. However in healthier adults, the body’s immune system can develop antibodies that fight off viral infections, but people with underlying medical conditions must be extra careful even if the lockdown is lifted as hypertension, obesity and diabetes were the most common Comorbidities among Covid-19 patients.” This was stated by Dr. Narayana Prasad, Technical Director, Cardiovascular Imaging Core Lab, Brigham, and Women’s Hospital (Harvard Medical School Teaching Hospital) and Founder, www.public health literacy.org, Boston, MA USA, while explaining the criticalities among COVID 19 and Co-morbidities in Indian perspective. He was addressing a webinar conducted by IIHMR University, Jaipur, on ‘COVID 19 and Co-morbidities (Obesity, Heart Diseases and Hypertension) – From Public Health Perspective.’ The session was moderated by Dr. Piyusha Majumdar, Assistant Professor, IIHMR University, Jaipur.

According to a study conducted by AIIMS, New Delhi, Fortis Escorts Health Institute, New Delhi, and Mother Hospital, Kerala, one in three Indians suffer from Hypertension. He also referred the recent studies conducted by the US Centre for Disease Control (CDC) which analyzed the data of around 7,000 COVID-19 patients, found that 71 per cent of those who were hospitalized with the infection and 78 per cent of those who were admitted to ICUs had underlying medical conditions which implies that almost 90% of Covid-19 admissions involve Comorbidities.

Dr. Piyusha Majumdar, Assistant Professor, IIHMR University said, “As we all know that, first   three Indians who died of COVID-19, had underlying health conditions like diabetes, hypertension and asthma, that are believed to have compromised their fight against the disease. Although respiratory symptoms are the hallmark of COVID 19, this elusive coronavirus attacks the human body in other ways more than any other virus especially among those who have chronic diseases. The scientists across the world are working relentlessly to understand the nature of the disease, still the uncertainty and controversies continues.”

The world has been brought to a stand-still by the COVID-19 pandemic that has affected almost 197 countries, areas, and territories. The virus which is more likely to be fatal in people with pre-existing diseases like hypertension, obesity, diabetes, or heart disease hits multiple organs of the human body. Since the patients with co-morbidities appear to be more vulnerable to be severely ill with the virus, as, their immune systems response is compromised. To address the challenges associated with the mentioned conditions, IIHMR University, Jaipur organized this webinar.