PESHAWAR: Coronavirus has killed most people falling in the age group above 80 years as they account for 16.7 per cent of the overall case fatality rate since the onset of the pandemic in the country, says a report.

The lowest death rate of three per cent was recorded among people from one to10 years, according to the latest report compiled by National Emergency Centre of Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Islamabad.

The report has also given the province-wide breakup of mortality, according to which 39 per cent of the total deaths took place in Sindh, 35 per cent in Punjab, 19 per cent in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, three per cent in Islamabad and two per cent in Balochistan.

It said that 71 per cent of those fallen prey to the infection had co-morbidities while 29 per cent had no other ailment and Covid-19 was the sole cause of their death.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which recorded 1,267 deaths since the advent of the virus, has 85 per cent comorbid among the victims of Covid-19 which is the highest in all provinces compared to the nationwide 71 per cent.

Lowest death rate recorded in 1-10 age group

Of those, who died of Covid-19 in KP, 36 per cent suffered from cardiovascular diseases (CVD), 31 per cent from diabetes, 10 per cent from hypertension, five per cent from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and three per cent from chronic kidney disease (CKD) while 15 per cent passed away due to the virus.

The report said that 12.7 per cent of the infected people breathed their last in the age group of 71 to 80 years and the age of 8.2 per cent deceased ranged between 61 to 70 years.

The ratio of fatality remained 4.2 per cent among the people of 51 to 60 years of age and 1.8 per cent of the deceased were between 41 to 50 years among the total nationwide 6,692 fatalities.

It said that 0.11 per cent mortality was recorded among people aged from 31 to 40 years and 0.5 per cent each in age groups of 21 to 30 years and 11 to 20 years respectively while the lowest deaths rate of three per cent was recorded among people from one to10 years. The infection has killed elderly people and the younger ones have stayed safe.

The overall case fatality rate (CFR) in Pakistan is 2.1 per cent against 2.75 per cent globally. CFR in KP is 3.26 per cent. Of the total dead persons, 3.407 (57 per cent) remained on ventilators on average for three days.

The report said that 91 per cent died in hospitals with average 6.1 per cent stay in health facilities whereas the rest of nine per cent passed away in homes. The virus killed 4,754 males, 1937 females and one transgender person.

The deceased people also included 88 healthcare providers -- 62 doctors, 23 paramedical staff, two nurses and one medical student.

It said that 9.271 of the healthcare providers contracted infection. They included 62 per cent doctors, 27 per cent paramedics and 11 per cent nurses.

Of the infected persons, 20 per cent performed duty in critical care units and 80 per cent elsewhere in the hospital but 7,934 (96 per cent) of them recovered from the ailment.

KP recorded 2,494 infected healthcare providers, the highest number of cases among the health workers, Sindh 2,257, Punjab 1.816, Islamabad 647, Balochistan 514 in Balochistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan registered 200 cases among health workers.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2020