28pct of Covid-19 fatalities didn't make it to hospital

 

A total of 28 percent of the Covid-19 fatalities until Nov 10 died before they received treatment, said Health Minister Dr Adham Baba today.

"Of the 216 deaths (up to Nov 10), 72 percent died after receiving treatment at a Health Ministry facility, while the remaining 84 deaths (28 percent) happened before the patient arrived at a medical facility," he said.

Adham said the majority of the deceased arrived in hospital in a severe state, with 55 percent at Stage 4, while 27 percent at Stage 3.

He added that 90 percent of all deaths were caused by severe pneumonia and organ failure, while others died of acute heart disease and other chronic diseases, such as cancer.

Adham said this in a parliamentary written reply dated Nov 12 to Wong Ling Biu (DAP-Sarikei), who asked what were the main causes of Covid-19 fatalities in the country.

Of the 300 deaths up to Nov 10, 67 percent were male patients while 86 percent are Malaysians.

A total of 85 percent were aged above 50, with most of them aged between 60 and 69, he said.

"We conclude that factors contributing to Covid-19 fatality risk are age, those who are 50 and above, comorbidities like hypertension, diabetes and other chronic diseases, and the clinical stage of the patient when they arrive for treatment," Adham (photo) added.

Last month, Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said about a third of all those who died in the third wave were "brought in dead". 

Sabah recorded the most deaths in the third wave.

As such, the Health Ministry deployed forensic specialists to the Borneo state to assist in cases where Covid-19 infected individuals died at home or before reaching the hospital.

A total of 337 people have died of Covid-19 in Malaysia, 58 percent of those in Sabah.

The first person died, who on March 17, was a pastor in Kuching.

The youngest patients who died were two one-year-olds while the oldest was a 100-year-old woman in Sandakan. - Mkini