What behavioural changes in patients are straining healthcare resources?

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Patient Behavioural Shifts Are Straining Healthcare Resources

A notable shift in patient behaviour is placing significant strain on healthcare resources, with individuals exhibiting altered patterns in seeking treatment and managing chronic conditions. This change is compounded by the increasing number of asymptomatic Covid-19 cases and a worrying rise in severe illness among younger populations, diverting essential medical services away from non-Covid-19 patients.
Delayed or Engineered Hospital Admissions

The way patients seek medical care has changed, with some individuals now delaying admissions or even engineering them. This includes patients with chronic illnesses like diabetes and heart conditions who, particularly around festive periods such as Raya, may postpone seeking help for complications. For instance, diabetic patients might delay treatment for gangrenous limbs, leading to the necessity of urgent amputations and intensive care unit (ICU) admission.
Mismanagement of Chronic Conditions

Specific behaviours related to managing chronic illnesses are exacerbating existing health issues and increasing the demand for hospital beds and critical care. Patients with epilepsy have been observed stopping their medication and presenting at hospitals awaiting seizures, while those with heart conditions may disregard fluid restrictions, precipitating heart failure and subsequent hospitalisation. These actions put a considerable burden on resources like ventilators and operating theatres, which are also needed for Covid-19 patients.
Asymptomatic Cases and Young Patient Admissions

A significant proportion of Covid-19 patients are now asymptomatic, often only being diagnosed through routine screenings prior to hospital admission for other reasons. Concurrently, there is a concerning upward trend in young people contracting Covid-19 and requiring hospitalisation and medical interventions, including critical care. This demographic shift further strains finite healthcare resources, which are already being allocated to manage the influx of Covid-19 cases.

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What behavioural changes in patients are straining healthcare resources?

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