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ObjectivesThis study explores the clinical profiles and factors associated with COVID-19 in Cameroon. Research design and methodsIn this prospective cohort study, we followed patients admitted for suspicion of COVID-19 at Djoungolo Hospital between 01st April and 31st July 2020. Patients were categorised by age groups and disease severity: mild (symptomatic without clinical signs of pneumonia pneumonia), moderate (with clinical signs of pneumonia without respiratory distress) and severe cases (clinical signs of pneumonia and respiratory distress not requiring invasive ventilation). Demographic information and clinical features were summarised. Multivariable analysis was performed to predict risk. ResultsA total of 323 patients were admitted during the study period; 262 were confirmed cases of COVID-19 by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Among the confirmed cases, the male group aged 40 to 49 years (13.9%) was predominant. Disease severity ranged from mild (77%; N=204) to moderate (15%; N=40) to severe (7%; N=18); the case fatality rate was 1% (N=4). Dysgusia (46%; N=111) and hyposmia/anosmia (39%; N=89) were common features of COVID-19. Nearly one-third of patients had comorbidities (29%; N=53), of which hypertension was the most common (20%; N=48). Participation in a mass gathering (OR=5.47; P=0.03) was a risk factor for COVID-19. Age groups 60 to 69 (OR=7.41; P=0.0001), 50 to 59 (OR=4.09; P=0.03), 40 to 49 (OR=4.54; P=0.01), male gender (OR=2.53; P=0.04), diabetes (OR= 4.05; P= 0.01), HIV infection (OR=5.57; P=0.03), lung disease (OR= 6.29; P=0.01), dyspnoea (OR=3.70; P=0.008) and fatigue (OR=3.35; P=0.02) significantly predicted COVID-19 severity. ConclusionUnlike many high-income settings, most COVID-19 cases in this study were benign with low fatality. Such findings may guide public health decision-making.
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INTRODUCTION: Addition in patients of less than 40 years is not uncommon in our practice. We investigated the need for addition after objective refraction and thus determine the average age of onset of the presbyopia. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study of patients aged 35-45 years at the Central Hospital of Yaoundé over a period of three months. All patients underwent cycloplegic refraction. Distance visual acuity was corrected after instillation of cycloplegic eye drops while near addition was assessed two days later when the cycloplegia was no longer effective. Possible additional distance correction was done 2 days after cycloplegia. Statistical analysis was done using IBM SPSS 20.0 software. RESULTS: We examined 55 patients, 110 eyes. The average age of patients was 41.87±2.5 years, the sex-ratio was 0.28. There was a female predominance. Hypermetropic astigmatism was the most common ametropia (58.2% of cases) followed by hyperopia (24.6%).No patient was myopic. the average age of presbyopia onset in this age group was 43.2±1.7 years. After objective correction of distance visual acuity, no patient needed for addition before the age of 40. Moreover, 4 out of 10 patients with hypermetropic ametropia did not need addition before the age of 40. Addition was significantly associated with age. CONCLUSION: The average age of presbyopia onset is 43.2±1.7 years. Before the age of 45, addition must be preceded by objective refraction.
