“remember that three per cent of people have died, but 97% have recovered,” he says.another reason for optimism, he says, is the growing number of trials that are ongoing throughout the world to find a treatment to halt covid-19 in its tracks, particularly the ones focused on helping to protect — and treat — those with cardiovascular diseases who have developed the virus.one such
trial involves ubc faculty of medicine researcher dr. josef penninger. part of international team, penninger is working with biotech company aperion biologics to research whether its drug apn01 can successfully treat people with severe coronavirus infection. the drug has already been shown to block viral spread in sars, results that oudit calls “encouraging.”but finding out for sure how effective apn01 is in blocking the covid-19 virus is going to take time. while we wait, oudit urges people with cardiovascular issues not to delay getting medical attention if they think they have the virus.“if you think you are sick, get seen by a doctor sooner, rather than later,” he says. “we know that early care and early assessment is vitally important in improving the outcomes for people who are at a high risk of developing complications.”he adds that despite the risk posed by covid-19 for people in this high-risk category, there are treatment options, including icu care, supplemental oxygen, intubation if needed, and possibly steroids.and in case you think that having these underlying conditions and developing covid-19 means that you are going to die, “it’s simply not true,” he says.“covid-19 is sinister, and yes, these other conditions put you at risk,” he says. “but they most definitely don’t guarantee a poor outcome.”
@lmachado@postmedia.com