Coronavirus: higher death toll linked to medical care delays, UAE doctors say

Medics urge patients to seek health advice early to reduce risk of severe symptoms

People get tested for coronavirus at the Mina Rashid screening centre in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, health authorities have called upon citizens and residents to join with the efforts of health care professionals. Health workers, such as these Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, have led the way. Reem Mohammed / The National

Healthcare workers at the emergency ward in Sheikh Khalifa Medical City. The President, Sheikh Khalifa, has paid tribute to the frontline workers who helped to curb Covid-19. Reem Mohammed / The National

Healthcare workers at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City receive a patient outside the emergency department. Reem Mohammed / The National

A consultant physician at the emergency department in Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, receives a Covid-19 patient. Reem Mohammed / The National

People get the laser blood test tests at the Mina Rashid screening centre in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A nurse sanitises her hands after conducting a swab test at one of the UAE's screening drive-through centres in Mina Rashid, Dubai. Victor Besa / The National

A health worker taking the Covid-19 nasal swab test at a testing station in thet Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Nurse Renu Venugopal, who contracted Covid-19, recovered and continued to treat patients at Al Zahra Hospital, Sharjah. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Ruth Deva Kiruba says being pregnant during a pandemic was surreal and sometimes lonely. Chris Whiteoak / The National

EMT nurse Jephy Antony, who contracted Covid-19, recovered and continued to treat patients at the NMC Royal Hospital, DIP, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A visitor gets tested at the Ras Al Khaimah Covid-19 drive-through testing centre. Reem Mohammed / The National

Nurse Nikhil Rajendran inside the fever clinic at the Bareen International Hospital in Mohamed Bin Zayed City in Abu Dhabi. Pawan Singh / The National

Shane Simeon Galang from Philippines, Mervat Aslan Mhgoub Mohamed from Egypt and Sowmya Kotian from India, who are nurses at the Bareen International Hospital in Mohamed bin Zayed City in Abu Dhabi. Pawan Singh / The National

Delaying or avoiding medical care to treat early signs of Covid-19 is leading to more deaths and patients suffering severe symptoms of the disease, UAE doctors said.

The seven-day average of new coronavirus cases diagnosed each day in the UAE has climbed above 3,000 since mid-January.

It led to more severe cases and deaths than during the first wave of the pandemic in May.

Dr Farida Al Hosani, spokeswoman for the health sector, said early treatment can save lives and help to reduce intensive care admissions.

“We call on all people to go to the nearest health centre if they display symptoms and provide health authorities with information on contacts to protect them and others – especially people most at risk of developing symptoms and complications of the disease,” Dr Al Hosani said on Tuesday.

“There are some people who neglect respiratory symptoms and do not go for an examination until their health deteriorates and they develop acute respiratory symptoms, such as shortness of breath."

A weekly average of 10 deaths or more has been recorded in the Emirates since early February – three times the numbers reported for most of 2020.

The trend is a worry for doctors. They said that while more tests were being done to identify cases, infected people were delaying medical treatment once symptoms appeared.

"People are taking it very lightly once they get a positive test," said Dr Sarla Kumari, an internal medicine specialist at Canadian Specialist Hospital in Dubai.

“We are having more numbers of tests so more detection of cases. This might be labelled as a surge of infection.”

Further safety measures have been introduced across Dubai as a result of soaring cases this year.

The number of people allowed in malls, hotels and beaches has been cut to 70 per cent, with capacity at indoor seated venues such as cinemas and theatres set at 50 per cent.

“People are only quarantining themselves once their health deteriorates, so they are seeking medical attention very late,” Dr Kumari said.

“As many people are still working from home or are scared to go to the gym or outside for physical activities we have seen more obesity among people, another contributing risk factor.

“If they get the Covid-19 infection, usually their prognosis is bad.”

Failure to properly manage existing health complaints such as hypertension and diabetes was also taking a toll on patients.

Young people may be more at risk of infection while the elderly and most vulnerable are given priority in the national vaccination programme, doctors said.

While the majority of patients seen by doctors were aged between 35 and 65, there was a growing trend of young people seeking medical help after a positive test.

“More young people are getting infected as they are having more interaction with people at workplaces and for leisure activities,” Dr Kumari said.

“Since last year many people in the old age group are usually confined to home and the majority have had their vaccinations.

“This could be the reason why we are seeing a surge in positive cases among the young and middle-aged.”

Dubai Health Authority issued a comprehensive list of guidelines this month that offered advice to those who tested positive for Covid-19, or have been in close contact with someone who has the virus.

Dr Adel Al Sisi, a critical care consultant and chief medical officer at Prime Hospital Dubai, said the hospital treated 10 critical cases during the second wave of the pandemic.

“The statistics are higher during this second wave and their symptoms are more severe,” he said.

“A response to treatment is much better in those who see us earlier compared with those who come to us at a later stage.

“If someone has a fever or a cough for 10 days before they see a doctor, usually the outcome is worse.

“They are more at risk of spending a prolonged period of time in hospital or even dying.”

The authority urged those in close contact with a positive case to isolate to help limit the spread of the virus after New Year celebrations and gatherings.

Health officials said people who took test should isolate until they received a negative result.

Dr Shahid Gauhar, chairman of the paediatric and neonatal unit at Prime Hospital, said new mutations of the virus presented different symptoms in younger children.

“The new mutations we are seeing are resulting in more severe symptoms in younger people, that is clear,” he said.

“In the previous wave, children were only presenting with upper respiratory tract infections and mild to moderate symptoms that responded very quickly to treatment.

“Unfortunately, the new strains are alarming for them.”

Doctors reported different symptoms of gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhoea and vomiting in children, along with more typical breathing problems and joint pain.

School-age children appear to be more vulnerable to being infected with the new strains than during the initial months of the pandemic, doctors said.

"Because of the experience we have had over the past year or so, many parents believe their children will not suffer from Covid-19, but they need to know that this is something different," Dr Gauhar said.

“This virus is now affecting children, so parents should be prepared to spot any signs or symptoms and immediately contact their health provider. Early intervention is very important.”

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