Heart Patients Running Away From Hospitals Due To Covid-19 – WHO

The World Health Organisation has urged people with underlying health conditions, such as heart disease, to stop avoiding visit to hospitals or medical doctors due to COVID-19 pandemic.

WHO made gave the advice on Tuesday in commemoration of the ‘World Heart Day’ acknowledged annually on September 29.

WHO said COVID-19 poses risk to patients with underlying issues such as heart disease, which is already the leading cause of death on the planet.

It however, lamented the emerging and worrying trend that heart patients, who would usually seek routine care or need to access emergency services for non-COVID-related issues, were avoiding hospitals and doctors.

“Across the board, countries noted this dramatic drop, attributing it to fear of contracting the virus,” WHO said.

The health organisation noted that Cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients are also more susceptible to severe COVID-19.

“Diseases affecting some form of heart condition or heart function include hypertension and diabetes, acute coronary syndrome, injury to muscles tissues of the heart, (myocardial injury), heart failure, and less heard of but prevalent diseases such as rheumatic heart disease and Chagas disease,” WHO said.

However, WHO advised that COVID-19 patients should be designated for care based on disease severity so that patients with moderate and severe disease are admitted in a separate ward or hospital depending on the available infrastructure.

WHO also advised that separate facilities be put in place for dealing with COVID-19 cardiac patients and non-COVID-19 cardiac patients, including catheterization laboratories for performing invasive heart examinations.

Hence, as the world celebrates the ‘World Heart Day’, WHO enjoined people with underlying health conditions such as heart disease, to visit the hospitals, emergency room, or a doctor when the need arises.

“The risks of heart attacks and stroke far outweigh the risks of contracting COVID-19 and time is truly of the essence when heart troubles hit.

“While telemedicine has been an important resource, it should not be seen as a replacement for in-person care nor should it be interpreted as a measure taken because hospital visits have become unsafe,” WHO said.