The association between non-communicable diseases and COVID-19 severity and mortality among infected hospitalized healthcare workers in 29 countries: a cohort study [version 2; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]

Background Due to occupational exposure, healthcare workers (HCWs) have a higher risk of Coronavirus Disease 2019(COVID-19) infection than the general population. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) may increase the risk of COVID-19-related morbidity and mortality among HCWs, potentially reducing the a...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sartie Kenneh, Mustapha Kabba, Innocent Nuwagira, Sia Morenike Tengbe, Jacklyne Ashubwe, Pryanka Relan, Ibrahim Franklyn Kamara, Francis Moses, Jonta Kamara, Santigie Sesay, Ibrahima Kaba, Mamud Idriss Kamara, Fassou Mathias Grovogui, Abdulai Tejan Jalloh, Mher Beglaryan, Yusuf Sheku Tejan, Shermarke Hassan, Jerry-Jonas Mbasha
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: F1000 Research Ltd 2025-06-01
Series:F1000Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://f1000research.com/articles/13-624/v2
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849470994470666240
author Sartie Kenneh
Mustapha Kabba
Innocent Nuwagira
Sia Morenike Tengbe
Jacklyne Ashubwe
Pryanka Relan
Ibrahim Franklyn Kamara
Francis Moses
Jonta Kamara
Santigie Sesay
Ibrahima Kaba
Mamud Idriss Kamara
Fassou Mathias Grovogui
Abdulai Tejan Jalloh
Mher Beglaryan
Yusuf Sheku Tejan
Shermarke Hassan
Jerry-Jonas Mbasha
author_facet Sartie Kenneh
Mustapha Kabba
Innocent Nuwagira
Sia Morenike Tengbe
Jacklyne Ashubwe
Pryanka Relan
Ibrahim Franklyn Kamara
Francis Moses
Jonta Kamara
Santigie Sesay
Ibrahima Kaba
Mamud Idriss Kamara
Fassou Mathias Grovogui
Abdulai Tejan Jalloh
Mher Beglaryan
Yusuf Sheku Tejan
Shermarke Hassan
Jerry-Jonas Mbasha
author_sort Sartie Kenneh
collection DOAJ
description Background Due to occupational exposure, healthcare workers (HCWs) have a higher risk of Coronavirus Disease 2019(COVID-19) infection than the general population. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) may increase the risk of COVID-19-related morbidity and mortality among HCWs, potentially reducing the available health workforce. We examined the association between NCDs and COVID-19 disease severity and mortality among infected HCWs. Methods This cohort study used data from the International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infections Consortium (ISARIC) database. HCWs hospitalized between January 2020 and January 2023 due to clinically suspected or laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 were eligible for inclusion. Variables collected included demographic data, comorbidities, and hospitalization outcomes. Descriptive statistics were reported using mean/standard deviation (SD), median/interquartile range (IQR), or frequencies and proportions. For each NCD, the relative risk of death, adjusted for age and sex, was calculated using log-binomial regression as well as the population-attributable fraction. Results There were 17,502 HCWs, 95.7% of whom had a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis. The majority were female (66.5%) and the mean age (SD) was 49.8 (14.3) years. Roughly, half (51.42%) of HCWs had no comorbidities, 29.28% had one comorbidity, 14.68% had 2 comorbidities and <5% had ≥3 comorbidities. The most common comorbidities were diabetes mellitus (49.40%) and cardiovascular disease (36.90%). Approximately one-fifth of the HCWs had severe COVID-19 (16.95%) and 10.68% of the HCWs with COVID-19 died. Being ≥45 years old, male gender, smoking, obesity, and certain NCDs increased the risk of COVID-19 severity and mortality. Obesity and diabetes mellitus were the leading risk factors in terms of the population-attributable risk for COVID-19 severity (6.89%) and mortality (36.00%) respectively. Conclusions Many HCWs with COVID-19 had one or more NCDs. Obesity and diabetes mellitus increased COVID-19 severity and mortality risk. Reducing the prevalence of obesity and diabetes mellitus would yield the biggest reduction in COVID-19-related morbidity and mortality among HCWs.
format Article
id doaj-art-c38d5ed2f18a4dc986311a303ed36bed
institution Kabale University
issn 2046-1402
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher F1000 Research Ltd
record_format Article
series F1000Research
spelling doaj-art-c38d5ed2f18a4dc986311a303ed36bed2025-08-20T03:24:59ZengF1000 Research LtdF1000Research2046-14022025-06-011310.12688/f1000research.150838.2183478The association between non-communicable diseases and COVID-19 severity and mortality among infected hospitalized healthcare workers in 29 countries: a cohort study [version 2; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]Sartie Kenneh0Mustapha Kabba1Innocent Nuwagira2Sia Morenike Tengbe3https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7287-4426Jacklyne Ashubwe4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1451-2723Pryanka Relan5https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9543-7891Ibrahim Franklyn Kamara6https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1454-4650Francis Moses7https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9490-6537Jonta Kamara8https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2143-3900Santigie Sesay9Ibrahima Kaba10Mamud Idriss Kamara11Fassou Mathias Grovogui12Abdulai Tejan Jalloh13Mher Beglaryan14Yusuf Sheku Tejan15https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6113-7420Shermarke Hassan16Jerry-Jonas Mbasha17Ministry of Health, 4th Floor, Youyi Building, Freetown, Sierra LeoneMinistry of Health, 4th Floor, Youyi Building, Freetown, Sierra LeoneWorld Health Organization Country Office, 21 A-B Kingharman Road, Freetown, Sierra LeoneMinistry of Health, 4th Floor, Youyi Building, Freetown, Sierra LeoneMedwise Solutions Consultancy, Nairobi, P.O. Box 2356 00202, KenyaWorld Health Organization, Headquarters, Geneva, SwitzerlandWorld Health Organization Country Office, 21 A-B Kingharman Road, Freetown, Sierra LeoneMinistry of Health, 4th Floor, Youyi Building, Freetown, Sierra LeoneMultidisciplinary Adolescent and Youth Review Board, Second Lancet Commission on Adolescent Health and Wellbeing, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaMinistry of Health, 4th Floor, Youyi Building, Freetown, Sierra LeoneAfrica Center of Excellence for the Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases, University Gamal Abdel Nasser, Conakry, GuineaMinistry of Health, 4th Floor, Youyi Building, Freetown, Sierra LeoneAfrica Center of Excellence for the Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases, University Gamal Abdel Nasser, Conakry, GuineaMinistry of Health, 4th Floor, Youyi Building, Freetown, Sierra LeoneTuberculosis Research and Prevention Centre, Yerevan, 0014, ArmeniaMinistry of Health, 4th Floor, Youyi Building, Freetown, Sierra LeoneInfectious Diseases Data Observatory, University of Oxford, Oxford, UKWorld Health Organization, Africa Regional Office, Brazzaville, CongoBackground Due to occupational exposure, healthcare workers (HCWs) have a higher risk of Coronavirus Disease 2019(COVID-19) infection than the general population. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) may increase the risk of COVID-19-related morbidity and mortality among HCWs, potentially reducing the available health workforce. We examined the association between NCDs and COVID-19 disease severity and mortality among infected HCWs. Methods This cohort study used data from the International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infections Consortium (ISARIC) database. HCWs hospitalized between January 2020 and January 2023 due to clinically suspected or laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 were eligible for inclusion. Variables collected included demographic data, comorbidities, and hospitalization outcomes. Descriptive statistics were reported using mean/standard deviation (SD), median/interquartile range (IQR), or frequencies and proportions. For each NCD, the relative risk of death, adjusted for age and sex, was calculated using log-binomial regression as well as the population-attributable fraction. Results There were 17,502 HCWs, 95.7% of whom had a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis. The majority were female (66.5%) and the mean age (SD) was 49.8 (14.3) years. Roughly, half (51.42%) of HCWs had no comorbidities, 29.28% had one comorbidity, 14.68% had 2 comorbidities and <5% had ≥3 comorbidities. The most common comorbidities were diabetes mellitus (49.40%) and cardiovascular disease (36.90%). Approximately one-fifth of the HCWs had severe COVID-19 (16.95%) and 10.68% of the HCWs with COVID-19 died. Being ≥45 years old, male gender, smoking, obesity, and certain NCDs increased the risk of COVID-19 severity and mortality. Obesity and diabetes mellitus were the leading risk factors in terms of the population-attributable risk for COVID-19 severity (6.89%) and mortality (36.00%) respectively. Conclusions Many HCWs with COVID-19 had one or more NCDs. Obesity and diabetes mellitus increased COVID-19 severity and mortality risk. Reducing the prevalence of obesity and diabetes mellitus would yield the biggest reduction in COVID-19-related morbidity and mortality among HCWs.https://f1000research.com/articles/13-624/v2COVID-19 Healthcare workers Noncommunicable diseases Mortality Disease severity SORT ITeng
spellingShingle Sartie Kenneh
Mustapha Kabba
Innocent Nuwagira
Sia Morenike Tengbe
Jacklyne Ashubwe
Pryanka Relan
Ibrahim Franklyn Kamara
Francis Moses
Jonta Kamara
Santigie Sesay
Ibrahima Kaba
Mamud Idriss Kamara
Fassou Mathias Grovogui
Abdulai Tejan Jalloh
Mher Beglaryan
Yusuf Sheku Tejan
Shermarke Hassan
Jerry-Jonas Mbasha
The association between non-communicable diseases and COVID-19 severity and mortality among infected hospitalized healthcare workers in 29 countries: a cohort study [version 2; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]
F1000Research
COVID-19
Healthcare workers
Noncommunicable diseases
Mortality
Disease severity
SORT IT
eng
title The association between non-communicable diseases and COVID-19 severity and mortality among infected hospitalized healthcare workers in 29 countries: a cohort study [version 2; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]
title_full The association between non-communicable diseases and COVID-19 severity and mortality among infected hospitalized healthcare workers in 29 countries: a cohort study [version 2; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]
title_fullStr The association between non-communicable diseases and COVID-19 severity and mortality among infected hospitalized healthcare workers in 29 countries: a cohort study [version 2; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]
title_full_unstemmed The association between non-communicable diseases and COVID-19 severity and mortality among infected hospitalized healthcare workers in 29 countries: a cohort study [version 2; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]
title_short The association between non-communicable diseases and COVID-19 severity and mortality among infected hospitalized healthcare workers in 29 countries: a cohort study [version 2; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]
title_sort association between non communicable diseases and covid 19 severity and mortality among infected hospitalized healthcare workers in 29 countries a cohort study version 2 peer review 2 approved 1 approved with reservations
topic COVID-19
Healthcare workers
Noncommunicable diseases
Mortality
Disease severity
SORT IT
eng
url https://f1000research.com/articles/13-624/v2
work_keys_str_mv AT sartiekenneh theassociationbetweennoncommunicablediseasesandcovid19severityandmortalityamonginfectedhospitalizedhealthcareworkersin29countriesacohortstudyversion2peerreview2approved1approvedwithreservations
AT mustaphakabba theassociationbetweennoncommunicablediseasesandcovid19severityandmortalityamonginfectedhospitalizedhealthcareworkersin29countriesacohortstudyversion2peerreview2approved1approvedwithreservations
AT innocentnuwagira theassociationbetweennoncommunicablediseasesandcovid19severityandmortalityamonginfectedhospitalizedhealthcareworkersin29countriesacohortstudyversion2peerreview2approved1approvedwithreservations
AT siamoreniketengbe theassociationbetweennoncommunicablediseasesandcovid19severityandmortalityamonginfectedhospitalizedhealthcareworkersin29countriesacohortstudyversion2peerreview2approved1approvedwithreservations
AT jacklyneashubwe theassociationbetweennoncommunicablediseasesandcovid19severityandmortalityamonginfectedhospitalizedhealthcareworkersin29countriesacohortstudyversion2peerreview2approved1approvedwithreservations
AT pryankarelan theassociationbetweennoncommunicablediseasesandcovid19severityandmortalityamonginfectedhospitalizedhealthcareworkersin29countriesacohortstudyversion2peerreview2approved1approvedwithreservations
AT ibrahimfranklynkamara theassociationbetweennoncommunicablediseasesandcovid19severityandmortalityamonginfectedhospitalizedhealthcareworkersin29countriesacohortstudyversion2peerreview2approved1approvedwithreservations
AT francismoses theassociationbetweennoncommunicablediseasesandcovid19severityandmortalityamonginfectedhospitalizedhealthcareworkersin29countriesacohortstudyversion2peerreview2approved1approvedwithreservations
AT jontakamara theassociationbetweennoncommunicablediseasesandcovid19severityandmortalityamonginfectedhospitalizedhealthcareworkersin29countriesacohortstudyversion2peerreview2approved1approvedwithreservations
AT santigiesesay theassociationbetweennoncommunicablediseasesandcovid19severityandmortalityamonginfectedhospitalizedhealthcareworkersin29countriesacohortstudyversion2peerreview2approved1approvedwithreservations
AT ibrahimakaba theassociationbetweennoncommunicablediseasesandcovid19severityandmortalityamonginfectedhospitalizedhealthcareworkersin29countriesacohortstudyversion2peerreview2approved1approvedwithreservations
AT mamudidrisskamara theassociationbetweennoncommunicablediseasesandcovid19severityandmortalityamonginfectedhospitalizedhealthcareworkersin29countriesacohortstudyversion2peerreview2approved1approvedwithreservations
AT fassoumathiasgrovogui theassociationbetweennoncommunicablediseasesandcovid19severityandmortalityamonginfectedhospitalizedhealthcareworkersin29countriesacohortstudyversion2peerreview2approved1approvedwithreservations
AT abdulaitejanjalloh theassociationbetweennoncommunicablediseasesandcovid19severityandmortalityamonginfectedhospitalizedhealthcareworkersin29countriesacohortstudyversion2peerreview2approved1approvedwithreservations
AT mherbeglaryan theassociationbetweennoncommunicablediseasesandcovid19severityandmortalityamonginfectedhospitalizedhealthcareworkersin29countriesacohortstudyversion2peerreview2approved1approvedwithreservations
AT yusufshekutejan theassociationbetweennoncommunicablediseasesandcovid19severityandmortalityamonginfectedhospitalizedhealthcareworkersin29countriesacohortstudyversion2peerreview2approved1approvedwithreservations
AT shermarkehassan theassociationbetweennoncommunicablediseasesandcovid19severityandmortalityamonginfectedhospitalizedhealthcareworkersin29countriesacohortstudyversion2peerreview2approved1approvedwithreservations
AT jerryjonasmbasha theassociationbetweennoncommunicablediseasesandcovid19severityandmortalityamonginfectedhospitalizedhealthcareworkersin29countriesacohortstudyversion2peerreview2approved1approvedwithreservations
AT sartiekenneh associationbetweennoncommunicablediseasesandcovid19severityandmortalityamonginfectedhospitalizedhealthcareworkersin29countriesacohortstudyversion2peerreview2approved1approvedwithreservations
AT mustaphakabba associationbetweennoncommunicablediseasesandcovid19severityandmortalityamonginfectedhospitalizedhealthcareworkersin29countriesacohortstudyversion2peerreview2approved1approvedwithreservations
AT innocentnuwagira associationbetweennoncommunicablediseasesandcovid19severityandmortalityamonginfectedhospitalizedhealthcareworkersin29countriesacohortstudyversion2peerreview2approved1approvedwithreservations
AT siamoreniketengbe associationbetweennoncommunicablediseasesandcovid19severityandmortalityamonginfectedhospitalizedhealthcareworkersin29countriesacohortstudyversion2peerreview2approved1approvedwithreservations
AT jacklyneashubwe associationbetweennoncommunicablediseasesandcovid19severityandmortalityamonginfectedhospitalizedhealthcareworkersin29countriesacohortstudyversion2peerreview2approved1approvedwithreservations
AT pryankarelan associationbetweennoncommunicablediseasesandcovid19severityandmortalityamonginfectedhospitalizedhealthcareworkersin29countriesacohortstudyversion2peerreview2approved1approvedwithreservations
AT ibrahimfranklynkamara associationbetweennoncommunicablediseasesandcovid19severityandmortalityamonginfectedhospitalizedhealthcareworkersin29countriesacohortstudyversion2peerreview2approved1approvedwithreservations
AT francismoses associationbetweennoncommunicablediseasesandcovid19severityandmortalityamonginfectedhospitalizedhealthcareworkersin29countriesacohortstudyversion2peerreview2approved1approvedwithreservations
AT jontakamara associationbetweennoncommunicablediseasesandcovid19severityandmortalityamonginfectedhospitalizedhealthcareworkersin29countriesacohortstudyversion2peerreview2approved1approvedwithreservations
AT santigiesesay associationbetweennoncommunicablediseasesandcovid19severityandmortalityamonginfectedhospitalizedhealthcareworkersin29countriesacohortstudyversion2peerreview2approved1approvedwithreservations
AT ibrahimakaba associationbetweennoncommunicablediseasesandcovid19severityandmortalityamonginfectedhospitalizedhealthcareworkersin29countriesacohortstudyversion2peerreview2approved1approvedwithreservations
AT mamudidrisskamara associationbetweennoncommunicablediseasesandcovid19severityandmortalityamonginfectedhospitalizedhealthcareworkersin29countriesacohortstudyversion2peerreview2approved1approvedwithreservations
AT fassoumathiasgrovogui associationbetweennoncommunicablediseasesandcovid19severityandmortalityamonginfectedhospitalizedhealthcareworkersin29countriesacohortstudyversion2peerreview2approved1approvedwithreservations
AT abdulaitejanjalloh associationbetweennoncommunicablediseasesandcovid19severityandmortalityamonginfectedhospitalizedhealthcareworkersin29countriesacohortstudyversion2peerreview2approved1approvedwithreservations
AT mherbeglaryan associationbetweennoncommunicablediseasesandcovid19severityandmortalityamonginfectedhospitalizedhealthcareworkersin29countriesacohortstudyversion2peerreview2approved1approvedwithreservations
AT yusufshekutejan associationbetweennoncommunicablediseasesandcovid19severityandmortalityamonginfectedhospitalizedhealthcareworkersin29countriesacohortstudyversion2peerreview2approved1approvedwithreservations
AT shermarkehassan associationbetweennoncommunicablediseasesandcovid19severityandmortalityamonginfectedhospitalizedhealthcareworkersin29countriesacohortstudyversion2peerreview2approved1approvedwithreservations
AT jerryjonasmbasha associationbetweennoncommunicablediseasesandcovid19severityandmortalityamonginfectedhospitalizedhealthcareworkersin29countriesacohortstudyversion2peerreview2approved1approvedwithreservations