UAE Covid: Are you at higher risk of getting coronavirus?

Covid-19 can infect anyone, however, certain groups of people are at higher risk of contracting the virus or developing complications. The elderly and those with underlying health conditions have been considered vulnerable. But doctors in the UAE have stressed that poor lifestyle is another Covid risk factor. Obesity, in particular, must be addressed.

“A study has found that obese people who contracted Covid were 113 per cent more likely to land in hospital than people of healthy weight,” advanced laparoscopic surgeon Dr JS Rajkumar had explained.

Losing weight, he said, can help a person tackle chronic diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, which make one vulnerable to Covid-19.

A recent Covid-19 risk profiling study conducted by a UAE healthcare provider has found that out of 3,277 people who were assessed on the risk of contracting the disease — 62 per cent were overweight; 51 per cent thrived on fast-food diet; 45 per cent were smokers; 40 per cent were over 50 years old, and people with cardiac ailments were 33 per cent — all contributing factors that put a person at risk of getting infected by the Covid virus.

The study conducted by Arabian Wellness, RAK Hospital’s Lifestyle and Wellness Division, also found that 26 per cent of those studied hardly did any physical activity, while 23 per cent were diabetics.

Mads Bo Larsen, vice-president and general manager of pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk, stressed that in the time of Covid, it has become more relevant than ever to initiate obesity treatment. “Studies show that people with obesity are not only more susceptible to get infected with the Covid-19 virus, they also — once infected — have much higher risks of developing serious complications due to the infection.”

The Arabian Wellness study concluded that about 17 per cent people among those studied are at high risk (people with reduced immunity) and 82 per cent at medium risk of getting the disease due to various health conditions.

“People with high risk factors are more likely to need hospitalisation, hence as a strategy to combat Covid-19, it becomes imperative to gather this vital information. We counselled all 3,277 participants after assessment, in order to provide high-risk individuals with a better prevention approach,” said Dr Raza Siddiqui, Executive Director, RAK Hospital.

“We have also been educating the community with proper medical guidance by giving talks about taking precautions, hence reducing their risk for severe illness.”

saman@khaleejtimes.com