Characteristics and outcomes of admitted patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Uganda

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 h...

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Main Authors: Trishul Siddharthan, Bruce Kirenga, Levicatus Mugenyi, Winceslaus Katagira, William Worodria, Alex Kayongo, Christopher Nsereko, Rosemary K Byanyima, Rebecca Nantanda, Ivan Kimuli, Emmanuel Nasinghe, Beatrice Amuge, Moses Muwanga, Samuel Kalungi, David Patrick Kateete, Moses R Kamya
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2020-09-01
Series:BMJ Open Respiratory Research
Online Access:https://bmjopenrespres.bmj.com/content/7/1/e000646.full
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author Trishul Siddharthan
Bruce Kirenga
Levicatus Mugenyi
Winceslaus Katagira
William Worodria
Alex Kayongo
Christopher Nsereko
Rosemary K Byanyima
Rebecca Nantanda
Ivan Kimuli
Emmanuel Nasinghe
Beatrice Amuge
Moses Muwanga
Samuel Kalungi
David Patrick Kateete
Moses R Kamya
author_facet Trishul Siddharthan
Bruce Kirenga
Levicatus Mugenyi
Winceslaus Katagira
William Worodria
Alex Kayongo
Christopher Nsereko
Rosemary K Byanyima
Rebecca Nantanda
Ivan Kimuli
Emmanuel Nasinghe
Beatrice Amuge
Moses Muwanga
Samuel Kalungi
David Patrick Kateete
Moses R Kamya
author_sort Trishul Siddharthan
collection DOAJ
description 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.
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spelling doaj-art-640fcd1bee064f628de1ec0a61ef086f2025-08-20T02:32:56ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open Respiratory Research2052-44392020-09-017110.1136/bmjresp-2020-000646Characteristics and outcomes of admitted patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 in UgandaTrishul Siddharthan0Bruce Kirenga1Levicatus Mugenyi2Winceslaus Katagira3William Worodria4Alex Kayongo5Christopher Nsereko6Rosemary K Byanyima7Rebecca Nantanda8Ivan Kimuli9Emmanuel Nasinghe10Beatrice Amuge11Moses Muwanga12Samuel Kalungi13David Patrick Kateete14Moses R Kamya15Pulmonary and Critical Care, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USAMakerere University Lung Institute, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda, UgandaLung Institute, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, UgandaMakerere University Lung Institute, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, UgandaUganda Ministry of Health, Kampala, UgandaLung Institute, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, UgandaDpartment of Medicine, Entebbe Regional Referral Hospital, Entebbe, UgandaDepartment of Radiology, Mulago National Specialised Hospital, Kampala, UgandaMakerere University Lung Institute, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, UgandaMakerere University Lung Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, UgandaDepartment of Immunology and Molecular Biology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, UgandaDepartment of Nursing, Mulago National Specialised Hospital, Kampala, UgandaDepartment of Medicine, Entebbe Regional Referral Hospital, Entebbe, UgandaPathology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, UgandaDepartment of Immunology and Molecular Biology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, UgandaMedicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, UgandaRationale 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.https://bmjopenrespres.bmj.com/content/7/1/e000646.full
spellingShingle Trishul Siddharthan
Bruce Kirenga
Levicatus Mugenyi
Winceslaus Katagira
William Worodria
Alex Kayongo
Christopher Nsereko
Rosemary K Byanyima
Rebecca Nantanda
Ivan Kimuli
Emmanuel Nasinghe
Beatrice Amuge
Moses Muwanga
Samuel Kalungi
David Patrick Kateete
Moses R Kamya
Characteristics and outcomes of admitted patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Uganda
BMJ Open Respiratory Research
title Characteristics and outcomes of admitted patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Uganda
title_full Characteristics and outcomes of admitted patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Uganda
title_fullStr Characteristics and outcomes of admitted patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Uganda
title_full_unstemmed Characteristics and outcomes of admitted patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Uganda
title_short Characteristics and outcomes of admitted patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Uganda
title_sort characteristics and outcomes of admitted patients infected with sars cov 2 in uganda
url https://bmjopenrespres.bmj.com/content/7/1/e000646.full
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