Prevalence of Post COVID-19 Condition among healthcare workers: self-reported online survey in four African countries (preprint)

The impact of Post COVID-19 Condition is ongoing despite the declaration that the COVID-19 pandemic has ended. In this study, we explore the prevalence of PCC among healthcare workers (HCWs) in four African Countries and its influence on their professional performance. This study was conducted as an online cross-sectional survey of healthcare workers from four African countries (Cameroon, Egypt, Nigeria, and Somalia) between the 20th of December 2021 to 12th of January 2022. We determined the prevalence of PCC based on the WHO case definition and assessed variables associated with a higher prevalence of PCC in these countries using univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses. A total of 706 HCWs from four African countries were included in this survey. Most of the HCWs were aged between 18-34 years (75.8%, n=535). Our findings showed that 19.5% (n=138) of the HCWs had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. However, 8.4% (n=59) were symptomatic for COVID-19 but tested negative or were never tested. Two-thirds of the HCWs (66.4%, n=469)have received a COVID-19 vaccine and 80.6% (n=378) of those vaccinated had been fully vaccinated. The self-reported awareness rate of PCC among the HCWs was 16.1% (n=114/706) whereas the awareness rate of PCC among COVID-19-positive HCWs was 55.3 % (n=109/197). The prevalence of PCC among HCWs was 58.8% (n=116). These changes include the self-reported symptoms of PCC which included headache (58.4%, n=115), fatigue (58.8%, n=116), and muscle pain (39.6%, n=78). Similarly, 30% (n=59) and 20.8% (n=41) of the HCWs reported the loss of smell and loss of taste long after their COVID-19 infection, respectively. Some HCWs (42%, n=83) believed that their work performance has been affected by their ongoing symptoms of PCC. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of PCC among the vaccinated and unvaccinated HCWs (p > 0.05). Of the socio-demographic variables, age (older HCWs between 45-54 years; OR:1.7; 95% CI: 1.06, 10.59; p = 0.001) and location (Egypt; OR:14.57; 95% CI: 2.62, 26.76; p = 0.001) were more likely to have experienced PCC than other age groups and countries respectively. The study revealed low prevalence of PCC among the surveyed HCC. In addition, it observed the need for adequate medical and psychological support to HCWs with PCC, improve their COVID-19 vaccination uptake, and conduct mass advocacy campaigns on PCC.

Clinical Characteristics, Comorbidities, Initial Management and Outcome of COVID-19 Infected Patients Admitted to Intensive Care Unit in Somalia: A National Retrospective Study. (preprint)

Purpose: To investigate the clinical characteristics, morbidities, management, and outcomes of COVID-19 Infected patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) in Somalia.Material and methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study of laboratory 60 confirmed patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) admitted to an ICU from March 28, to May 28, 2020.The sociodemographic characteristics, comorbidities, exposure history, clinical manifestations (symptoms and signs), laboratory findings, treatment, and outcomes were collected from medical records.Results: Most of the patients admitted to ICU were men over 59 years of age, and nearly half had diabetes followed by hypertension chronic kidney disease and asthma. The most clinical presentations were dyspnea (91.2%), Fever (81.1%), (68.75%), Fatigue and myalgia (25%), and Altered level of conscious (16.6%). Among 48 patients admitted to the ICU, about 24 (50%) patients had required endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation, and 11(29.9%) patients needed noninvasive ventilation, while 13(27.08%) patients treated with high-flow oxygen therapy >15 L/min (Table 3). Corticosteroids were administered to most patients (85.4%), while 77.1% of the patients received inhaled bronchodilators and morethan half of the patients administered antibiotics. 58.3% of the patients had received Oseltamivir, while 22.9% received Vasopressors.Conclusion This study represents the first description of critically ill patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 admitted to ICU in Somalia. The study identified that elder age, male gender, and diabetic and hypertensive comorbidities as independent risk factors of poor outcomes for patients admitted to the ICU (p<0.005).