Clinical presentation, outcomes and factors associated with mortality: A prospective study from three COVID-19 referral care centres in West Africa

OBJECTIVES: The overall death toll from COVID-19 in Africa is reported to be low but there is little individual-level evidence on the severity of the disease. This study examined the clinical spectrum and outcome of patients monitored in COVID-19 care centres (CCCs) in two West-African countries. METHODS: Burkina Faso and Guinea set up referral CCCs to hospitalise all symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 carriers, regardless of the severity of their symptoms. Data collected from hospitalised patients by November 2020 are presented. RESULT: A total of 1,805 patients (64% men, median age 41 years) were admitted with COVID-19. Symptoms lasted for a median of 7 days (IQR 4-11). During hospitalisation, 443 (25%) had a SpO2 < 94% at least once, 237 (13%) received oxygen and 266 (15%) took corticosteroids. Mortality was 5% overall, and 1%, 5% and 14% in patients aged <40, 40-59 and ≥60 years, respectively. In multivariable analysis, the risk of death was higher in men (aOR 2.0, 95% CI 1.1; 3.6), people aged ≥60 years (aOR 2.9, 95% CI 1.7; 4.8) and those with chronic hypertension (aOR 2.1, 95% CI 1.2; 3.4). CONCLUSION: COVID-19 is as severe in Africa as elsewhere, and there must be more vigilance for common risk factors such as older age and hypertension

La pandemia COVID-19 en África: relato de médicos anestesiólogos africanos

Se presenta la experiencia médica recopilada principalmente de países del África Sud-Saharina en relación a la pandemia del COVID-19, donde la mayoría de los contenidos descritos provienen de publicaciones científicas aparecidas durante el transcurso de la epidemia (algunos antes de la revisión por pares), incluyendo artículos de medios de comunicación independientes, junto a frecuentes intercambios de información entre los autores, así como, testimonios personales que ellos mismos han recibido. No se hará referencia a las consecuencias socio-económicas posibles de esta crisis, aunque se podrá suponer que estas serán importantes, aunque diferentes a aquellas consecuencias que afectarán a los países técnicamente avanzados. Las conclusiones expuestas pertenecen exclusivamente a los autores y no comprometen, de ninguna forma, a las instituciones en las cuales ellos forman parte.[COVID-19 pandemia in Africa: a narrative review] The medical experience collected mainly from South-Saharan African countries in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic is presented, where most of the contents described come from scientific publications that appeared during the course of the epidemic (some before peer review ), including articles from independent media, along with frequent exchanges of information between the authors, as well as personal testimonies that they themselves have received. No reference will be made to the possible socio-economic consequences of this crisis, although it may be assumed that these will be important, although different from those consequences that will affect technically advanced countries. The stated conclusions belong exclusively to the authors and do not commit, in any way, the institutions in which they form part