Kolkata: Unpredictability of Covid-19 outcome spooks senior citizens; doctors sound alert

KOLKATA: Asymptomatic elderly patients should be monitored consistently if they are kept on home quarantine. A substantial number of such patients has suffered a quick deterioration, even leading to death, warn experts. A mild cough with no fever or breathing distress may well be deceptive and soon lapse into a severe lung failure or organ dysfunction in a matter of a few hours, they said, particularly if the patient has underlying co-morbidities, they have pointed out.

A 67-year-old from north Kolkata, who had diabetes but no other ailment, succumbed to Covid at a private hospital on Friday within hours of developing a breathing distress. He had been largely asymptomatic ever since he started running a low temperature two days prior to that.

Those above 60 years can suffer a sharp deterioration even if they have apparently mild co-morbidities, according to AMRI Hospital consultant Debashish Saha. “So, senior citizens need to be split into two groups — co-morbid and those without co-morbidities. The former, irrespective of their symptoms, should have their vital parameters screened regularly. For instance, they should have a pulse oximeter at hand to check oxygen saturation level, apart from their blood pressure, blood glucose level and pulse rate. These should be reported to a doctor and consultation sought immediately if a parameter seems abnormal,” explained Saha. Cardiac, kidney, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) patients were vulnerable along with those suffering from cancer, he added.
Those without co-morbidites were safer but not free from danger, according to RN Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences (RTIICS) consultant Arindam Biswas. “Due to their low immunity, the elderly can’t fight a viral attack as effectively as the young. If the viral load is bigger, they could suffer a sudden deterioration without prior symptoms. And this has been happening very frequently now that many are forced to stay at home as hospital beds are not easily available,” said Biswas.
Even without co-morbidities, elderly Covid patients are susceptible to a sudden breathing distress that may strike without warning. “This happens due to the fact that the virus attacks the lungs. The bigger the viral load, the more intense would be the assault on the lungs. It’s even triggering a multi-organ failure. For those with co-morbidities, this is often turning out to be fatal,” said Biswas.
On the other hand, there were those in their sixties, seventies and eighties who have emerged unscathed from a Covid attack. A couple of nonagenarians have survived Covid in Kolkata. “In their case, the viral load may have been smaller. “Their immune system could possibly combat the lower volume of viral load. Generally, the immune-response starts weakening from the age of 65, which is why co-morbidities set in and they often turn life-threatening. This is the reason why influenza vaccine is prescribed to the elderly population,” said Biswas.