2 research outputs found
COVID-19 mortality rate and its associated factors during the first and second waves in Nigeria
COVID-19 mortality rate has not been formally assessed in Nigeria. Thus, we aimed to address this gap and identify associated mortality risk factors during the first and second waves in Nigeria. This was a retrospective analysis of national surveillance data from all 37 States in Nigeria between February 27, 2020, and April 3, 2021. The outcome variable was mortality amongst persons who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by Reverse-Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction. Incidence rates of COVID-19 mortality was calculated by dividing the number of deaths by total person-time (in days) contributed by the entire study population and presented per 100,000 person-days with 95% Confidence Intervals (95% CI). Adjusted negative binomial regression was used to identify factors associated with COVID-19 mortality. Findings are presented as adjusted Incidence Rate Ratios (aIRR) with 95% CI. The first wave included 65,790 COVID-19 patients, of whom 994 (1β51%) died; the second wave included 91,089 patients, of whom 513 (0β56%) died. The incidence rate of COVID-19 mortality was higher in the first wave [54β25 (95% CI: 50β98β57β73)] than in the second wave [19β19 (17β60β20β93)]. Factors independently associated with increased risk of COVID-19 mortality in both waves were: age β₯45 years, male gender [first wave aIRR 1β65 (1β35β2β02) and second wave 1β52 (1β11β2β06)], being symptomatic [aIRR 3β17 (2β59β3β89) and 3β04 (2β20β4β21)], and being hospitalised [aIRR 4β19 (3β26β5β39) and 7β84 (4β90β12β54)]. Relative to South-West, residency in the South-South and North-West was associated with an increased risk of COVID-19 mortality in both waves. In conclusion, the rate of COVID-19 mortality in Nigeria was higher in the first wave than in the second wave, suggesting an improvement in public health response and clinical care in the second wave. However, this needs to be interpreted with caution given the inherent limitations of the countryβs surveillance system during the study