By Chantalé Fletcher
BODY Mass Index (BMI) is considered a comorbidity which sometimes goes unnoticed by many Covid-19 patients.
This was revealed by Thoracic Medical Director of the Caura Hospital Dr Michelle Trotman at the Ministry of Health’s virtual presser on Wednesday.
Dr Trotman said, “BMI is an indication of whether your height and weight are within the realms that will make you at the proper weight, overweight or obese.”
She said, “What we have found in the clinical scenario was that patients who do not seem to have any comorbidities actually have elevation in their BMI and that serves as a comorbidity.
“Often many people are not diagnosed with a comorbidity, so they are not aware that they have a problem until they present themselves for medical treatment.”
Dr Trotman said that BMI numbers up to 24 were considered acceptable and of a good weight and size.
“However, after 24, numbers up to 30, you are considered overweight and after that, you are considered obese according to certain criteria.”
In addition, she highlighted that most patients in the hospitals were unvaccinated, and require care beyond the ward level which involved the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) or the High Dependency Unit (HDU).
Dr Trotman said, “Patients can stay anywhere from six days to fourteen days, however, there were people who stay weeks and in some cases months.”
She said the majority of person were over 60 years but also cautioned younger people to be conscious of their health.
“Not because you are younger, you are spared.”
