Doctor outlines four chronic disease categories in fasting risk classification

Doha, Qatar: The Primary Health Care Corporation reiterated the importance of individual medical assessments for patients with chronic diseases to det...

Doha, Qatar: The Primary Health Care Corporation reiterated the importance of individual medical assessments for patients with chronic diseases to determine their health capacity to fast during the remaining days of the holy month of Ramadan, particularly those with diabetes, heart, kidney, or respiratory conditions.

Dr. Rand Silwan Abbood, a family medicine specialist at the Primary Health Care Corporation, told Qatar News Agency (QNA) that fasting represents a health challenge for chronic disease patients, making medical evaluation crucial, especially as many patients advised by their doctors not to fast do not follow this guidance, which may lead to health complications.

She clarified that the ability to fast depends on an accurate classification of health risk levels. She noted that some cases are medically advised not to fast at all, while other categories may fast under medical supervision with treatment adjustments and continuous monitoring.

Dr. Abbood explained that the health risk classification for fasting is divided into several categories: very high-risk cases, high-risk cases, moderate-risk cases, and low-risk cases.

She pointed out that fasting is medically not recommended for "very high-risk cases," which require an alternative and safe treatment plan.