The Critical Need for Pooled Data on Coronavirus Disease 2019 in African Children: An AFREhealth Call for Action Through Multicountry Research Collaboration

Globally, there are prevailing knowledge gaps in the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and outcomes of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection among children and adolescents; and these gaps are especially wide in African countries. The availability of robust age-disaggregated data is a critical first step in improving knowledge on disease burden and manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among children. Furthermore, it is essential to improve understanding of SARS-CoV-2 interactions with comorbidities and coinfections such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), tuberculosis, malaria, sickle cell disease, and malnutrition, which are highly prevalent among children in sub-Saharan Africa. The African Forum for Research and Education in Health (AFREhealth) COVID-19 Research Collaboration on Children and Adolescents is conducting studies across Western, Central, Eastern, and Southern Africa to address existing knowledge gaps. This consortium is expected to generate key evidence to inform clinical practice and public health policy-making for COVID-19 while concurrently addressing other major diseases affecting children in African countries

Assessment of Clinical Outcomes Among Children and Adolescents Hospitalized With COVID-19 in 6 Sub-Saharan African Countries

Importance: Little is known about COVID-19 outcomes among children and adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa, where preexisting comorbidities are prevalent. / Objective: To assess the clinical outcomes and factors associated with outcomes among children and adolescents hospitalized with COVID-19 in 6 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. / Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study was a retrospective record review of data from 25 hospitals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Uganda from March 1 to December 31, 2020, and included 469 hospitalized patients aged 0 to 19 years with SARS-CoV-2 infection. / Exposures: Age, sex, preexisting comorbidities, and region of residence. / Main Outcomes and Measures: An ordinal primary outcome scale was used comprising 5 categories: (1) hospitalization without oxygen supplementation, (2) hospitalization with oxygen supplementation, (3) ICU admission, (4) invasive mechanical ventilation, and (5) death. The secondary outcome was length of hospital stay. / Results: Among 469 hospitalized children and adolescents, the median age was 5.9 years (IQR, 1.6-11.1 years); 245 patients (52.4%) were male, and 115 (24.5%) had comorbidities. A total of 39 patients (8.3%) were from central Africa, 172 (36.7%) from eastern Africa, 208 (44.3%) from southern Africa, and 50 (10.7%) from western Africa. Eighteen patients had suspected (n = 6) or confirmed (n = 12) multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children. Thirty-nine patients (8.3%) died, including 22 of 69 patients (31.9%) who required intensive care unit admission and 4 of 18 patients (22.2%) with suspected or confirmed multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children. Among 468 patients, 418 (89.3%) were discharged, and 16 (3.4%) remained hospitalized. The likelihood of outcomes with higher vs lower severity among children younger than 1 year expressed as adjusted odds ratio (aOR) was 4.89 (95% CI, 1.44-16.61) times higher than that of adolescents aged 15 to 19 years. The presence of hypertension (aOR, 5.91; 95% CI, 1.89-18.50), chronic lung disease (aOR, 2.97; 95% CI, 1.65-5.37), or a hematological disorder (aOR, 3.10; 95% CI, 1.04-9.24) was associated with severe outcomes. Age younger than 1 year (adjusted subdistribution hazard ratio [asHR], 0.48; 95% CI, 0.27-0.87), the presence of 1 comorbidity (asHR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.40-0.72), and the presence of 2 or more comorbidities (asHR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.18-0.38) were associated with reduced rates of hospital discharge. / Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study of children and adolescents hospitalized with COVID-19 in sub-Saharan Africa, high rates of morbidity and mortality were observed among infants and patients with noncommunicable disease comorbidities, suggesting that COVID-19 vaccination and therapeutic interventions are needed for young populations in this region

Determinants of quality of life among community‑dwelling persons with spinal cord injury: A path analysis

Context: Recent advancement in technology and medical care has resulted in an increase not only in disability arising from spinal cord injury (SCI) but also its attendant challenges such as poor quality of life (QoL).Aim: To test a theoretical model of predictors of QoL among persons with SCI.Settings and Design: Study was conducted in the South Eastern Nigeria. A longitudinal study design was employed.Materials and Methods: A total of 64 persons with SCI discharged from in‑hospital admission participated in this study. QoL, state self‑esteem (SSE), social support satisfaction (SSS), and functional potentials (FPs) were assessed using short form health survey‑12, SSE scale, social support questionnaire 6, and spinal cord independent measure III, respectively. Their motor function (MF) and sensory function (SF) were assessed using the motor and sensory subscales of American Spinal Cord Association impairment scale.Statistical Analysis Used: Data obtained were analyzed using path analysis. The level of significance was set at α = 0.05.Results: Most of the participants were male (92.3%) with incomplete type of SCI (65.4%). The selected variables (SSE, SSS, FP, MF, and SF) significantly predicted a large percentage (R2 = 0.861) of QoL. All the predictor variables except age had a direct significant effect on QoL (P < 0.05). The trimmed model revealed that SSS (β =3.04, P = 0.002) had the highest direct effect on QoL.Conclusions: This study revealed that the combined assessment of SSE, SSS, FP, MF, and SF can be used to predict QoL significantly. Moreover, psychosocial factors are as important as clinical (biological) factors in predicting the outcomes of SCI, especially their QoL. Thus, the study buttresses the need to emphasize on the biopsychosocial model in the rehabilitation of persons with SCI.Key words: Determinants, path analysis, quality of life, spinal cord injur

Quality of life of stroke survivors in Africa : a systematic review and meta-analysis

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