"Diabetes is a known risk factor for severe pneumonia, and during the MERS-CoV pandemic in 2012, it was one of the main aggravating factors. Some observational data show an increase in mortality of 50% or more in diabetics with Covid-19, compared to people without diabetes, "said FHADIMAC, who wants special attention to be paid to this category of people. at risk.
The Covid-19 pandemic is in full swing in Haiti. In a previous interview, the former Minister of Public Health, Josette Bijou, had proposed to the health authorities to act on co-morbidities. "Since it would be difficult to equip the entire health system during this pandemic, it would be better to establish a response plan for the attention of patients suffering from a chronic disease," proposed Dr. Bijou.
Aware of this reality, the Haitian Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Foundation have taken care to develop several algorithms taking into account the different phases of the disease.
The concern of FHADIMAC also includes cardiovascular diseases often causing high mortality in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. "Diabetes is strongly associated with cardiovascular disease and is in itself a pro-coagulant and pro-inflammatory factor, the high burden of morbidity and mortality is not surprising, especially in the elderly where these disorders are more pronounced. "
The impact of Covid-19 on diabetic patients is no longer to be demonstrated, according to the document prepared by FHADIMAC. "In patients whose diabetes is not controlled during hospitalization
(capillary glycemia exceeding 180 mg/dl), the burden of morbidity and mortality linked to
Covid-19 is higher than in patients with blood sugar between 70 and 180
mg / dl (5). "
Health professionals who, until then, could encounter great difficulties with diabetic patients with Covid-19, FHADIMAC recommends "an optimization of glycemic control in any diabetic person as a means of primary prevention of Covid-19 so complementary to barrier measures ”.
Most diabetic patients often have several components of the metabolic syndrome. One of the important aspects alongside controlling blood sugar is that of high blood pressure and possibly dyslipidemia. Therefore, therapies initiated for this purpose should be maintained.
Regarding medication, the Foundation which deals with diabetes and cardiovascular disease recommends not to discontinue the current therapy for asymptomatic people and mild forms of the disease.
However, in order to reduce the risk of metabolic decompensation, FHADIMAC recommends discontinuing these therapies in the event of moderate to severe impairment (6) to Covid-19 according to the classification of the "National Institute of Health" United States of America.
This document, which includes at least three tables related to the management of diabetes in patients with Covid-19, aims fundamentally to reduce the fatality rate of Covid-19, in particular, that linked to co-morbidities.
FHADIMAC invites health professionals to increase their knowledge and complete the effort already undertaken by healthcare teams to reduce the fatality rate of Covid-19 in Haiti.
