Characteristics and outcomes of admitted patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Uganda
Abstract
Rationale: Detailed data on the characteristics and outcomes of patients with COVID-19 in sub-Saharan Africa are limited. Objective: We determined the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in Uganda . Measurements: As of the 16 May 2020, a total of 203 cases had been confirmed. We report on the first 56 patients; 29 received hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and 27 did not. Endpoints included admission to intensive care, mechanical ventilation or death during hospitalisation. Main results: The median age was 34.2 years; 67.9% were male; and 14.6% were <18 years. Up 57.1% of the patients were asymptomatic. The most common symptoms were fever (21.4%), cough (19.6%), rhinorrhea (16.1%), headache (12.5%), muscle ache (7.1%) and fatigue (7.1%). Rates of comorbidities were 10.7% (pre-existing hypertension), 10.7% (diabetes) and 7.1% (HIV), Body Mass Index (BMI) of ≥30 36.6%. 37.0% had a blood pressure (BP) of >130/90 mm Hg, and 27.8% had BP of >140/90 mm Hg. Laboratory derangements were leucopenia (10.6%), lymphopenia (11.1%) and thrombocytopenia (26.3%). Abnormal chest X-ray was observed in 14.3%. No patients reached the primary endpoint. Time to clinical recovery was shorter among patients who received HCQ, but this difference did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion: Most of the patients with COVID-19 presented with mild disease and exhibited a clinical trajectory not similar to other countries. Outcomes did not differ by HCQ treatment status in line with other concluded studies on the benefit of using HCQ in the treatment of COVID-19.
Citation
Kirenga , B , Muttamba , W , Kayongo , A , Nsereko , C , Siddharthan , T , Lusiba , J , Mugenyi , L , Byanyima , R K , Worodria , W , Nakwagala , F , Nantanda , R , Kimuli , I , Katagira , W , Bagaya , B S , Nasinghe , E , Aanyu-Tukamuhebwa , H , Amuge , B , Sekibira , R , Buregyeya , E , Kiwanuka , N , Muwanga , M , Kalungi , S , Joloba , M L , Kateete , D P , Byarugaba , B , Kamya , M R , Mwebesa , H & Bazeyo , W 2020 , ' Characteristics and outcomes of admitted patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Uganda ' , BMJ Open Respiratory Research , vol. 7 , no. 1 , e000646 . https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjresp-2020-000646
Publication
BMJ Open Respiratory Research
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
2052-4439Type
Journal article
Rights
Copyright © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited, appropriate credit is given, any changes made indicated, and the use is non-commercial.
Description
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.Collections
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