'Out of 57 COVID deaths in state, 39 due to severe co-morbidities': WB Health Committee

Of 57 deaths of persons who tested positive for vel Coronavirus examined till date, only 18 were due to COVID-19 infection while rest were due to severe co-morbidities which were immediate cause of death, an expert committee of West Bengal government said. committee set up on April 3 under State Health Department drew conclusion after conducting an audit on COVID-19 deaths.

Expert Committee said it examined all relevant documents including Bed-Head-Ticket, treatment history, laboratory investigation reports, death certificates and or documents sent by hospitals. It said 39 deaths due to severe co-morbid conditions "were immediate cause of death and COVID-19 was incidental finding".

Co-morbidity refers to presence of more than one disorder/disease in same person at same time (meaning co-existing).

READ | IMCT Writes To Bengal CS; Seeks Explanation On Methodology Used To Ascertain COVID Death

List of co-morbidities

" co-morbidities were Cardiomyopathy with Chronic Kidney disease, Renal failure, Cerebro-vascular accidents, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Left Ventricular Failure in severe hypertension, Multi-organ failure in Type II Diabetes and Hypertension, Red Cell Aplasia, in a case of severe Diabetes and Hypertension and Severe Diabetes and Hypertension with Hypo-natremia," an official te said. 

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IMCT queries on COVID death methodology

This comes after  Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) on Friday wrote to West Bengal Chief Secretary Rajiv Sinha asking him to explain methodology used by ‘Committee of Doctors’ in state to ascertain death due to COVID-19 and also if it is in line with gudelines of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

(AP Photo)

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'Out of 57 COVID deaths in Bengal, 39 due to 'severe' co-morbidities': Health Committee

39 of 57 dead testing COVID postive died due to severe co-morbidity: Bengal health dept