Clinical and epidemiological characteristics and outcomes of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 in Douala, Cameroon

INTRODUCTION: The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a disease that originated from Wuhan in December 2019. It rapidly spread across the globe causing high mortality especially among the elderly. Africa though not spared has limited studies regarding its effects on its population. We therefore sought to describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 in Douala, Cameroon. METHODS: we conducted a single-centre, retrospective, and observational study by reviewing records of patients managed for COVID-19 between the 8th March 2020 and 31st, May 2020. Cases were confirmed by real-time Reverse Transcriptase – Polymerase Chain Reaction and were analysed for epidemiological, demographic, clinical, and radiological features. Outcomes were either clinical improvement by Day-28 or in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: we analyzed 282 case files, 192 were males (M: F=3:1). The mean age was 52 (+/- 15) years. Hypertension and diabetes accounted for 75% of the chronic medical conditions identified. Main presenting complaints were dyspnea, cough, asthenia, and fever (55-60%). Radiographic analysis showed a ground-glass appearance in 85% of cases. Chloroquine/Hydroxychloroquine was the most (91.8%) frequently used drug in management protocols, 35% needed oxygen supplementation while 6 patients were intubated. Severe pneumonia (11.3%) was the commonest complication. They were 91 admissions in the intensive care unit. The average length of hospital stay was 10 (+/- 5) days. The mortality rate was 32%. CONCLUSION: our findings are concordant with universally reported data of COVID-19 hospitalised patients. These parameters are essential in designing effective prevention and control programs aimed at reducing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic particularly in countries with limited resources..

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2021

Erschienen:

2021

Enthalten in:

The Pan African Medical Journal - 38(2021), 246 Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:38

Sprache:

Englisch ; Französisch

Beteiligte Personen:

David Mekolo [VerfasserIn]
Francois Adrien Bokalli [VerfasserIn]
Fru McWright Chi [VerfasserIn]
Steve Beukou Fonkou [VerfasserIn]
Mbachan Maseoli Takere [VerfasserIn]
Conrald Metuge Ekukole [VerfasserIn]
Jean Moise Bikoy Balomoth [VerfasserIn]
Dickson Shey Nsagha [VerfasserIn]
Noel Emmanuel Essomba [VerfasserIn]
Louis Richard Njock [VerfasserIn]
Marcellin Ngowe Ngowe [VerfasserIn]

Links:

doi.org [kostenfrei]
doaj.org [kostenfrei]
www.panafrican-med-journal.com [kostenfrei]
Journal toc [kostenfrei]
Journal toc [kostenfrei]

Themen:

Cameroon
Clinical characteristics
Covid-19
Epidemiology
Medicine
Outcomes
R

doi:

10.11604/pamj.2021.38.246.28169

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

DOAJ015666840