tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
J Med Virol
. 2021 Feb 5.
doi: 10.1002/jmv.26848. Online ahead of print.
Clinical characteristics of 4499 COVID-19 patients in Africa: A meta-analysis
Testimony Jesupamilerin Olumade[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Leonard Ighodalo Uzairue[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Introduction: The novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that started in December 2019 has affected over 95 million people and killed over 2 million people as of January 19, 2021. While more studies are published to help us understand the virus, there is a dearth of studies on the clinical characteristics and associated outcomes of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on the African continent.
Methods: We evaluated evidence from previous studies in Africa available in six databases between January 1 and October 6, 2020. Meta-analysis was then performed using Open-Meta Analyst and Jamovi software.
Results: A total of seven studies including 4499 COVID-19 patients were included. The result of the meta-analysis showed 68.8% of infected patients were male. Common symptoms presented (with their incidences) were fever (42.8%), cough (33.3%), headache (11.3%), breathing problems (16.8%). Other minor occurring symptoms included diarrhea (7.5%), and rhinorrhea (9.4%). Fatality rate was 5.6%. There was no publication bias in the study.
Conclusion: This study presents the first description and analysis of the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients in Africa. The most common symptoms are fever, cough and breathing problems. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Coronavirus; Pathogenesis; Research and Analysis Methods; Virus classification.
. 2021 Feb 5.
doi: 10.1002/jmv.26848. Online ahead of print.
Clinical characteristics of 4499 COVID-19 patients in Africa: A meta-analysis
Testimony Jesupamilerin Olumade[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Leonard Ighodalo Uzairue[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 33543800
- DOI: 10.1002/jmv.26848
Abstract
Introduction: The novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that started in December 2019 has affected over 95 million people and killed over 2 million people as of January 19, 2021. While more studies are published to help us understand the virus, there is a dearth of studies on the clinical characteristics and associated outcomes of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on the African continent.
Methods: We evaluated evidence from previous studies in Africa available in six databases between January 1 and October 6, 2020. Meta-analysis was then performed using Open-Meta Analyst and Jamovi software.
Results: A total of seven studies including 4499 COVID-19 patients were included. The result of the meta-analysis showed 68.8% of infected patients were male. Common symptoms presented (with their incidences) were fever (42.8%), cough (33.3%), headache (11.3%), breathing problems (16.8%). Other minor occurring symptoms included diarrhea (7.5%), and rhinorrhea (9.4%). Fatality rate was 5.6%. There was no publication bias in the study.
Conclusion: This study presents the first description and analysis of the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients in Africa. The most common symptoms are fever, cough and breathing problems. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Coronavirus; Pathogenesis; Research and Analysis Methods; Virus classification.