CLUSTER ANALYSIS IDENTIFIES LONG COVID SUBTYPES IN BELGIAN PATIENTS (preprint)

SARS CoV-2 infection presents complications known as long Covid, a multisystemic organ disease which allow multidimensional analysis. ObjectivesThis study aims to identify Long Covid clusters and to relate them to the clinical classification devised at the Clinical Research Unit of Brugmann University Hospital, Brussels. MethodA two-stage multidimensional exploratory analysis was performed on a cohort of 205 long Covid patients, involving a Factorial Analysis of Mixed Data (FAMD), and then Hierarchical Clustering Post Component Analysis (HCPC). ResultsThe studys sample comprised 76% women, with an average age of 44.5 years. Three clinical forms were identified: long, persistent, and post-viral syndrome. Multidimensional analysis identified three clusters: cluster 1 (myalgia-like pain) associated with the persistent clinical form; cluster 2 (neurocognitive disorders) linked to the long clinical form; cluster 3 (neurocognitive disorders, anxio-depressive syndrome, joint pain and myalgia, peripheral nervous system disorders with dysautonomia, including Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, along with digestive system disorders). However, biological data did not provide sufficient differentiation between the clusters. ConclusionLong Covid phenotypes, as well as clinical forms, appear to be associated with distinct pathophysiological mechanisms or genetic predisposition, warranting further investigation.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward COVID-19 among the general population: a cross-sectional study in Kankan, Guinea.

Background: Implementing decisive and effective infection prevention and control measures necessitates a thorough grasp of the general population's level of knowledge in order to identify existing gaps and react appropriately. Objective: The goal of this cross-sectional research was to assess public knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) about COVID-19 in Kankan Guinea, in order to better understand the socio-demographic factors that are associated with poor KAP. Materials and Methods: The study population consists of 1230 people who reside in five health districts in the Kankan region. An anonymous paper-based questionnaire, given face-toface by trained field agents, was used to gather data. Results: The research included 1230 Guineans in total. The bulk of respondents (60%) were familiar with COVID-19. Only 44% of respondents under the age of 29 had a clear understanding of COVID-19. Male participants knew more about COVID-19 than female ones (P=0.003). The majority of participants (82%) had negative attitudes toward COVID-19, while 61% reported positive practices linked to COVID-19 measures. In this research, being female was a risk factor for poor knowledge of COVID-19 (P0,001), and being single was a risk factor for negative attitudes toward COVID-19 (P=0,009). Conclusion: Appropriate measures should be taken to increase public awareness and improve general practice of preventive measures aimed at reducing the spread of infectious diseases such as COVID-19.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward COVID-19 among the general population: A cross-sectional Study in Kankan Guinea (preprint)

Implementing decisive and effective infection prevention and control measures requires a good understanding of the state of knowledge among the general population, in order to identify existing gaps and respond adequately. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) related to COVID-19 among the public in Kankan Guinea, with a view to understanding socio-demographic factors that are associated with poor KAP. In total, 1230 Guineans participated in this study.The majority of respondents (60%) had good knowledge about COVID-19. However, only 44% of respondents below 29 years old had a good level of knowledge about COVID-19. Male participants had a higher level of knowledge about COVID-19 compared to female participants (P = 0.003). The majority of participants (82%) had negative attitudes towards COVID-19 and 61% of respondents reported good practices related to COVID-19 measures. In this study, being female was a risk factor for poor knowledge about COVID-19 (P < 0,001) and being single was a risk factor for negative attitudes towards COVID-19 (P = 0,009). Appropriate measures should be undertaken to raise public awareness and improve widespread practice of preventive measures aimed at reducing the spread of infectious diseases such as COVID-19.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward COVID-19 among the general population: A cross-sectional Study in Kankan Guinea (preprint)

Implementing decisive and effective infection prevention and control measures requires a good understanding of the state of knowledge among the general population, in order to identify existing gaps and respond adequately. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) related to COVID-19 among the public in Kankan Guinea, with a view to understanding socio-demographic factors that are associated with poor KAP. In total, 1230 Guineans participated in this study.The majority of respondents (60%) had good knowledge about COVID-19. However, only 44% of respondents below 29 years old had a good level of knowledge about COVID-19. Male participants had a higher level of knowledge about COVID-19 compared to female participants (P = 0.003). The majority of participants (82%) had negative attitudes towards COVID-19 and 61% of respondents reported good practices related to COVID-19 measures. In this study, being female was a risk factor for poor knowledge about COVID-19 (P < 0,001) and being single was a risk factor for negative attitudes towards COVID-19 (P = 0,009). Appropriate measures should be undertaken to raise public awareness and improve widespread practice of preventive measures aimed at reducing the spread of infectious diseases such as COVID-19.