When it comes to per capita coronavirus deaths, the Czech Republic is among the highest in the world. According to official statistics from the country’s Ministry of Health, nearly 28,000 people had died from COVID-19 by the end of March, and more than a hundred have died every day since.
But the picture is likely to be even worse. “According to scientific estimates, the actual number of victims is at least a third higher,” says Jan Konvalinka, vice-chancellor of Charles University in Prague.
At the same time, the country has a relatively good health system, an economy that works close to the EU average, low social inequality and the second highest standard of living among the countries of the former Soviet bloc. So how does this square work with the high mortality rate of COVID-19?
Most Czech experts and analysts blame the populist government, led by oligarch Andrej Babis, for the country’s catastrophic pandemic record. “In situations where other countries were announcing closures, the Czech Republic eased the restrictions. This happened after the summer holidays as well as before Christmas. And now the government is considering it once again,” Vaclav said. Horejsi, immunologist from the Czech Republic. Academy of Sciences (CAS), on Czech television.
Other probable reasons for the high mortality rate of COVID-19 are the weak application of existing coronavirus restrictions, insufficient monitoring of infection, lack of evidence, and, increasingly, the increasingly rapid transmission of coronavirus. the highly infectious and deadly variant of the United Kingdom.
The Czechs are by far the world’s largest beer drinkers and drink even more during the coronavirus crisis
Main Czech consumers of alcohol, marijuana and Czech cigarettes
Experts say a generally unhealthy lifestyle led by many Czechs is also a contributing factor: the Czech Republic leads the world in beer consumption per capita, with Czechs dropping nearly 200 liters (53 gallons) per person each year; is the European “market leader” for marijuana use among young people; and “leads” the EU in per capita smokers.
With 57% of women and 71% of men in the Czech Republic overweight, the country also leads the EU in this category. And the health consequences of widespread obesity have become apparent during the coronavirus pandemic: scientific research cited by the World Obesity Federation (WOF) after the first months of the pandemic established a clear connection between the obesity and the threat of dying from diseases such as COVID. 19.
Eight out of 10 overweight Czech patients COVID-19
“We were surprised to see such a high correlation between the proportion of overweight adults in the country and their deaths from COVID-19,” Tim Lobstein, lead author of the report, told the British newspaper. The guardian.
“The correlation between obesity and mortality rates of COVID-19 is clear and compelling,” agreed World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Doctors in the Czech Republic have also tried to warn the population about the dangers of being overweight or obese in relation to COVID-19. “Unfortunately, the Czech Republic is one of the record holders in terms of obesity in Europe,” said Ladislav Dusek, director of the Institute of Health Information and Statistics of the Czech Republic (IHIS CR). Up to “80% of COVID patients admitted to the hospital are obese or overweight,” he told DW.
The vast majority of coronavirus infections and deaths are directly related to obesity, a factor in 80% of hospital admissions.
Large belly is a “significant risk”
“Overweight people are the hardest hit,” Martina Vasakova, head of respiratory medicine at Thomayer University Hospital in Prague, told Czech radio. “The pandemic started a year ago and since then everyone who is overweight has had the opportunity to assess the risk it takes when it comes to COVID-19,” he said. “Unfortunately, what I see is that people are stressed and fat.”
According to Vasakova, the degree of obesity considered “normal” in the Czech Republic is, in fact, dangerous, “A belly is a major risk for both men and women,” she says.
Do we look forward to spring?
“Even the risk of disease with COVID-19 increases greatly with obesity,” obesity researcher Jozef Cupka told the Czech newspaper. Denik N. “If an overweight person gets sick, there are many more chances of being admitted to the hospital. And if they are hospitalized, there are many more chances of ending up in intensive care. And when they are in care intensive, there is a much greater risk of dying. “
Cupka also considers coronavirus restrictions in the Czech Republic to be part of the problem. He points out that indoor exercise has been banned, while alcohol consumption has increased simultaneously and more people have become overweight.
By mid-April, many restrictions will have to be relaxed, and in combination with the spring weather, this means more opportunities to exercise outdoors, including more opportunities to lose weight.
Czech doctors are convinced: every kilo counts in the fight against COVID-19.