Characteristics of COVID-19 patients and risk factors of mortality in the early times of pandemic, Herat-Afghanistan

Objective: Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause different types of diseases. This study aims to evaluate the risk factors for mortality based on comorbidity and sociodemographic characteristics among COVID-19 patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study conducted in Herat, Afghanistan, from February 24 to July 5, 2020, used data provided by the public health department, including sociodemographics, symptoms, comorbidities, hospitalization, contact history, and COVID-19 test type. The Chi-square test was used to observe differences between categorical variables. In bivariate analysis, all independent variables with a significant p-value were put into the model. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated, and a p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The study analyzed 11,183 COVID-19 cases, with a 53.5% positivity rate. Recovery rates in the city and Herat province districts were 96.2% and 94.7%, respectively. Case-fatality rates varied with age, with 0.4% for those aged 1-29 and 33% for those aged 80-105. Mortality rates were highest for those with COPD and cancer, at 12.5% and 18.2%, respectively. In the logistic regression results, age, gender, and COPD were significant variables for COVID-19 mortality. Conclusion: By providing more health service facilities to people in risk groups, especially in rural areas, the mortality rate of COVID-19 and other diseases can be decreased.

Current situation and future prospects of the COVID-19 pandemic

After the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020, the high numbers of cases and deaths had been reported over the world. In 2020, COVID-19 ranked sixth among the causes of death. This global crisis is much more than a health crisis, a humanitarian, economic, and social crisis. Our most important tool to end the epidemic is the vaccine and the herd immunity it can provide. New variants could change the herd immunity equation. The uneven and fair distribution of vaccine administration and the changing human behavior after vaccination are other significant modifiers. Vaccine hesitancy and infodemic are other main threats. The pandemic may progress with different scenarios, depending on the status of these variables. These scenarios can range from the complete eradication of the virus to the renewal of all vaccination plans with a new variant. With the pandemic, it is seen that the main problem of humanity is inequalities and the problem of living together with other living and non-living systems in the world.