COVID-19 patients with belly fat, high cholesterol have slow recovery rate

Srinagar: Experts have warned that the recovery rate of the COVID 19 patients having “metabolic syndrome” can be slow.

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions like high blood sugar, high blood pressure, fat around the belly, and high cholesterol levels that occur together.

According to health experts, metabolic syndrome (co-morbidities) makes Covid-19 cases worse, and they can take a longer time to recover from the infection.

Dr. Naved Nazir Shah, HOD Chest Diseases Hospital, Srinagar said a significant number of Covid-19 cases reported at the hospital so far had co-morbidities, especially diabetes.

“Metabolic syndrome is a systemic disease and affects multiple organs. In such cases, a person needs a longer time to recover as their underlying health conditions further exacerbate the complications caused by a coronavirus,” Dr. Naved said.

Seconding him, Dr. Afaaq Jalali, a physician said there are many complications that are caused by a coronavirus.

“If someone has “metabolic syndrome” then those complications multiply by manifolds,” he said.

He stressed that adopting a healthy lifestyle is the only way out.

“Taking proper precautions, exercising, healthy eating, cutting on a high carbohydrate diet, and regularly keeping a tab on your health condition are some of the ways to deal with such a situation,” he said.

Dr. Hayat Bhat, an endocrinologist at SMHS Hospital said the COVID-19 infection is a double challenge for people with co-morbidities.

“People, in particular, diabetics can experience severe symptoms and complications from COVID-19. Their condition may worsen if they do not maintain good metabolic control,” he said.

He recommended the patients to regularly monitor blood glucose, take a lot of fluids, keep an adequate supply of medicines at home.

In a related development, the Indian Institute of Management, Indore (IIM-I) has undertaken a detailed study with international collaboration on the relationship between Covid-19 and metabolic syndrome.

Their six-member research team comprises an assistant professor at IIM-I and fellows from the University of Michigan and the Columbia The University of America.

A member of the team, Assistant Professor and Biostatistics expert Sayantan Banerjee said that people with metabolic syndrome are vulnerable to coronavirus pandemic.

“After analyzing the data of the fourth round of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4), we have come to (know that) people with metabolic syndrome were vulnerable to the pandemic,” he said quoting a synopsis.