COVID-19:People with metabolic syndrome take longer to recover

Indore, May 17 () People with "metabolic syndrome"take longer in recovering from coronavirus infection as itcauses further health complications, experts have said andsuggested a healthy lifestyle and diet to keep the pandemic atbay.

Metabolic syndrome is characterised by hypertensionand high levels of blood sugar and cholesterol.

Dr Ravi Dosi, who heads chest department of Indore-based Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences(SAIMS),said that at least 150 of 1,100 COVID-19 patients he cameacross so far in Indore district had metabolic syndrome.

Indore, worst-hit by coronavirus pandemic, has so farreported 2,470 cases and 100 deaths.

"Of the 1,100 COVID-19 patients, about 150 men hadmetabolic syndrome (co-morbidities)," he said.

According to Dr Doshi, patients with metabolicsyndrome need a longer time to recover as their underlyinghealth conditions further exacerbate the complications causedby coronavirus.

Dr Doshi suggested a health lifestyle and proper dietto keep the coronavirus at bay.

In a related development, the Indian Institute ofManagement, Indore (IIM-I) has undertaken a detailed studywith international collaboration on the relationship betweenCOVID-19 and metabolic syndrome.

Their six-member research team comprises an assistantprofessor at IIM-I and fellows from the University of Michiganand the Columbia University of America.

A member of the team, Assistant Professor andBiostatistics expert Sayantan Banerjee said that people withmetabolic syndrome are vulnerable to coronavirus pandemic.

"After analysing the data of the fourth round of theNational Family Health Survey (NFHS-4), we have come to (knowthat) people with metabolic syndrome were vulnerable topandemic," he said quoting a synopsis.

Banerjee further said that red and orange zones havemore number of metabolic syndrome patients with high blood andsugar levels. HWP LALNSK NSK