Davao City – Kidney disease and diabetes topped the comorbidities-related COVID-19 deaths recorded from March 15, 2020 to April 24, 2021 in Davao City.
Davao City Health Office (CHO) Acting Head Dr. Ashley Lopez, also the COVID-19 focal person, bared this during the COVID-19 Alert program of the Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) last Wednesday, April 28.
Of the city’s 685 death cases, Lopez said, “75 to 80 percent dunay mga sakit parehas sa kidney, ga-dialysis na, og mga diabetic (About 75 to 80 percent have prevailing illnesses like kidney disease and those who have diabetes).”
Someone with comorbidities, according to him, will most likely end up as a chronic COVID-19 patient once infected with the virus.
He said, “The mayor would like to address the urgency of giving vaccines to this group. Hinaut matagaan og priority (I really hope they will be prioritized).”
In the COVID-19 vaccination priority list, senior citizens aged 60 and above are under priority A2 while persons with comorbidities are in priority A3. Most seniors are also noted to have comorbidities.
Lopez said senior citizens in the city could reach about 100,000.
In his report during the recent department heads meeting, among COVID-19 deaths, a total of 161 also suffered from kidney diseases; 126 with diabetes mellitus; 122 with heart diseases; 109 with hypertension (HCVD); 72 with respiratory diseases; 55 with digestive system diseases; 33 with cerebrovascular accident; and 32 with carcinoma; among others.
Lopez also attributed hospitalization utilization rate and critical care utilization rate as factors to the city’s COVID-19 fatalities.
The city government has already put up more isolation centers and temporary treatment and monitoring facilities (TTMFs) to brace for a possible second wave or another surge of COVID-19 cases.
(City Information Office | Michael Manguhig, RPN DXKT Davao OIC)