50% Covid deaths at Gurugram hospitals in this wave were of patients aged 21-40

  • | Wednesday | 12th May, 2021

GURUGRAM: One in every two lives lost to Covid between April 1 and May 10 — coinciding with the fierce second wave of the pandemic — in the city was of a young person, in the 21-40 age group. Health department data of hospital deaths shows Gurugram recorded 235 Covid deaths in this period, which is nearly 40% of the overall toll (599 till May 10) since the first death happened on May 10, 2020.

GURUGRAM: One in every two lives lost to Covid between April 1 and May 10 — coinciding with the fierce second wave of the pandemic — in the city was of a young person, in the 21-40 age group. Health department data of hospital deaths shows Gurugram recorded 235 Covid deaths in this period, which is nearly 40% of the overall toll (599 till May 10) since the first death happened on May 10, 2020.

Of the 235 who succumbed to the novel coronavirus infection, around 50% (117) were between 21 and 40 years old (53 between 21 and 30, 64 between 31 and 40). Late hospitalisations, patients reporting in the ‘out of the window period’, not immediately consulting a doctor after symptoms manifest, unavailability of certain medicines on time and comorbidities (found in 141 of the 235 patients) were the reasons why the infection had proved fatal for so many young people, several doctors TOI spoke to said.

Doctors and health department officials also pointed out that this age group was un-vaccinated and accounted for a majority of Covid cases that were recorded. More men succumbed to the infection (140) than women (95) in this period. Dr Shiba Kalyan Biswal, consultant (pulmonary) at Narayana Hospital, said, “In the previous wave of this pandemic, young individuals were seen to be less affected. A section of this group somehow unknowingly delayed treatment (during the current second wave). If patients report in the ‘out of the window period’, their condition becomes critical and chances of recovery are less. However, Covid can be equally dangerous for every age group, depending on the symptoms.”

Intensive care expert at Medanta, Dr Sushila Kataria, said people being infected with the new variant was a factor in infections turning fatal. She, however, also pointed to shortcomings. “Younger people are dying of Covid infections at present because of shortage in medicines supplies during treatment and delays in hospitalisation,” said Dr Kataria, adding, “We have also observed that maximum cases are of those infected with the new variant.”

Neeraj Kumar, a doctor treating Covid patients at Civil Hospital, said many younger patients are also reporting to hospitals late. “That is reducing their chances of survival. Family history of comorbidities also makes several people vulnerable to the infection,” he said.

The number of people aged 51-60 who succumbed to Covid between April 1 and May 10 was 20. The infection claimed 19 lives in the 61-70, 14 lives in the 71-80, four in the 81-90 and three in the 91-100 age groups. It also led to 10 deaths among children below the age of 10.


“Yes, we are witnessing a higher percentage of deaths in the younger age group in this surge since maximum new Covid cases are in this age group,” said Dr Virender Yadav, chief medical officer, Gurugram. “Hence, we are preparing a database to collect all information regarding Covid patients in home isolation and also contacts of Covid patients who are in hospitals to start treatment immediately,” he added. Yadav said the Covid deaths data the health department has complied is from numbers shared by hospitals. The numbers don’t reflect deaths outside hospitals due to Covid.

Underlining the significance of vaccinations in preventing the pandemic from hitting in waves, Dr Reshma Tewari, director (critical care) at Artemis, said, “We are certainly seeing a higher number of young adults in this wave — 60-70% are less than 60 years old, of whom more than half are less than 45. They have been more exposed as they needed to step out of their homes. Added to this, they are essentially the population that has not been vaccinated. For those who get admitted in ICU with a severe form of the disease, the deterioration is often rapid with many requiring ventilator support and aggressive treatment. Mortality in this situation in ICUs is close to 20% in spite of best efforts by the healthcare staff. The situation is grim.” Vaccinations for the 18-44 age group across India began on May 1.


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