Investigation of the factors potentially responsible for the significant different prevalence of COVID-19 between African-Africans and African-Americans

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in more than 145 million cases and 3 million deaths as of April 23, 2021. Compared with the other continents, Africa had a relatively lower prevalence of COVID-19. However, the African-American population showed a higher COVID-19 susceptibility than the other U.S. populations. Methods: To investigate the factors that are potentially responsible for the different susceptibility of COVID-19 between African-Africans and African-Americans, we collected the data of cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths, temperature, humidity, wind speed, age distribution, incidences of age-related diseases, lung diseases, and HIV, and smoking rate in 40 African countries and 50 U.S. states and New York city. Results: We found that old age, smoking, and age-related diseases (such as cardiovascular diseases, COPD, diabetes, hypertension, neoplasms, and stroke) were potential risk factors for COVID-19, while chronic kidney disease, tuberculosis, young age, and temperature were potential protective factors. Conclusions: The significant differences in the age distribution, incidences of age-related diseases, lung diseases, and HIV, smoking rate, temperature, and humidity could be responsible for the markedly different prevalence of COVID-19 between African-Africans and African-Americans.

Identifying novel factors associated with COVID-19 transmission and fatality using the machine learning approach.

The COVID-19 virus has infected more than 38 million people and resulted in more than one million deaths worldwide as of October 14, 2020. By using the logistic regression model, we identified novel critical factors associated with COVID19 cases, death, and case fatality rates in 154 countries and in the 50 U.S. states. Among numerous factors associated with COVID-19 risk, economic inequality enhanced the risk of COVID-19 transmission. The per capita hospital beds correlated negatively with COVID-19 deaths. Blood types B and AB were protective factors for COVID-19 risk, while blood type A was a risk factor. The prevalence of HIV and influenza and pneumonia was associated with reduced COVID-19 risk. Increased intake of vegetables, edible oil, protein, vitamin D, and vitamin K was associated with reduced COVID-19 risk, while increased intake of alcohol was associated with increased COVID-19 risk. Other factors included age, sex, temperature, humidity, social distancing, smoking, health investment, urbanization level, and race. High temperature is a more compelling factor mitigating COVID-19 transmission than low temperature. Our comprehensive identification of the factors affecting COVID-19 transmission and fatality may provide new insights into the COVID-19 pandemic and advise effective strategies for preventing and migrating COVID-19 spread.