Isaac Kisiangani, Ângela Jornada Ben, Elke Wynberg, Welcome Wami, Samuel Iddi, Idah Kinya, Anna Vassall, Catherine Kyobutungi, Abdhalah Ziraba, John Njeru, Olive Mugenda, Marion Wangui Kiguoya, Mutambuki Kimondo, Geoffrey Githua, Menno D de Jong, Shukri F Mohamed, Gershim Asiki, Constance Schultsz
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Evidence on long COVID remains limited in sub-Saharan countries.
Objective: This study explored the occurrence of COVID-19-related symptoms and factors affecting recovery and long COVID severity in Nairobi, Kenya.
Methods: A prospective cohort of individuals testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 between February 2022 and February 2023 was followed until June 2023. COVID-19-related symptoms were assessed every three months. Time to recovery was analyzed using survival analysis, while factors affecting recovery factors and long COVID severity using Cox proportional hazard and Poisson regression, respectively.
Results: Among 291 participants (median age 34, 59.1% female), 42 (14%) had severe/critical infection. At 6 and 12 months post-positive PCR, 53.1% and 33.5% had ≥ 1 COVID-19-related symptoms, respectively. Fatigue (40.2%), pain (36.8%), sore throat (36.8%), headaches (36.4%), and loss of strength (31.6%) were most common. Median time to recovery was longer for severe/critical cases than mild/moderate (234 vs 206 days, p = 0.016). Participants aged 40-64 years experienced slower recovery than those aged < 40 years (aHR = 0.635 [95%CI, 0.429;0.941]). Participants with tertiary education recovered faster than those with primary education (aHR = 1.869 [95%CI, 1.050;3.327]). Long COVID severity was associated with female sex (aIRR = 1.418 [95%CI; 1.078;1.864]), tertiary education (aIRR, 0.489 [95%CI, 0.415;0.576]), and ≥ 1 comorbidity (aIRR = 2.415 [95%CI, 1.639;3.559]).
Conclusions: Six months post-infection, half had lingering symptoms, with a third still affected after a year. Recovery was faster in younger, educated individuals, while severe long COVID was more common in women, those with low education and pre-existing conditions. The burden of long COVID in Kenya requires support for vulnerable groups.
期刊介绍:
Global Health Action is an international peer-reviewed Open Access journal affiliated with the Unit of Epidemiology and Global Health, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine at Umeå University, Sweden. The Unit hosts the Umeå International School of Public Health and the Umeå Centre for Global Health Research.
Vision: Our vision is to be a leading journal in the global health field, narrowing health information gaps and contributing to the implementation of policies and actions that lead to improved global health.
Aim: The widening gap between the winners and losers of globalisation presents major public health challenges. To meet these challenges, it is crucial to generate new knowledge and evidence in the field and in settings where the evidence is lacking, as well as to bridge the gaps between existing knowledge and implementation of relevant findings. Thus, the aim of Global Health Action is to contribute to fuelling a more concrete, hands-on approach to addressing global health challenges. Manuscripts suggesting strategies for practical interventions and research implementations where none already exist are specifically welcomed. Further, the journal encourages articles from low- and middle-income countries, while also welcoming articles originated from South-South and South-North collaborations. All articles are expected to address a global agenda and include a strong implementation or policy component.