Burden of acute and long-term COVID-19: a nationwide study in Bahrain

BackgroundCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may lead to long-term sequelae. This study aimed to understand the acute and post-acute burden of SARS-CoV-2 infection and to identify high-risk groups for post-COVID-19 conditions (PCC).MethodsA retrospective observational study of the Bahraini populati...

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Main Authors: Mariam Murad, Stephen L. Atkin, Pearl Wasif, Alwaleed Abdulaziz Behzad, Aamal M. J. Abdulla Husain, Roisin Leahy, Florence Lefebvre d’Hellencourt, Jean Joury, Mohamed Abdel Aziz, Srinivas Rao Valluri, Hammam Haridy, Julia Spinardi, Moe H. Kyaw, Manaf Al-Qahtani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-03-01
Series:Frontiers in Public Health
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1539453/full
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author Mariam Murad
Stephen L. Atkin
Pearl Wasif
Alwaleed Abdulaziz Behzad
Aamal M. J. Abdulla Husain
Roisin Leahy
Florence Lefebvre d’Hellencourt
Jean Joury
Mohamed Abdel Aziz
Srinivas Rao Valluri
Hammam Haridy
Julia Spinardi
Moe H. Kyaw
Manaf Al-Qahtani
Manaf Al-Qahtani
author_facet Mariam Murad
Stephen L. Atkin
Pearl Wasif
Alwaleed Abdulaziz Behzad
Aamal M. J. Abdulla Husain
Roisin Leahy
Florence Lefebvre d’Hellencourt
Jean Joury
Mohamed Abdel Aziz
Srinivas Rao Valluri
Hammam Haridy
Julia Spinardi
Moe H. Kyaw
Manaf Al-Qahtani
Manaf Al-Qahtani
author_sort Mariam Murad
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may lead to long-term sequelae. This study aimed to understand the acute and post-acute burden of SARS-CoV-2 infection and to identify high-risk groups for post-COVID-19 conditions (PCC).MethodsA retrospective observational study of the Bahraini population was conducted between 1 May 2021 and 30 April 2023, utilizing the national administrative database. PCC cases were defined according to WHO guidelines. All COVID-19 cases were confirmed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).ResultsOf 13,067 COVID-19 cases, 12,022 of them experienced acute COVID-19, and 1,045 of them developed PCC. Individuals with PCC tended to be older women with risk factors and instances of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection. The incidence rates per 100,000 individuals during the Alpha pandemic surge (2020), Delta pandemic surge (2021), and Omicron pandemic surge (2022) were 2.2, 137.2, and 222.5 for acute COVID-19, and 0.27, 10.5, and 19.3, respectively, for PCC cases. The death rates per 100,000 individuals during the Alpha, Delta, and Omicron pandemic surges were 3, 112, and 76, respectively, for acute COVID-19 and 1, 10, and 8, respectively, for PCC. The death rate was highest among those aged 65 and older during the Delta pandemic surge.ConclusionThese findings suggest the need for a timely national vaccination program prior to new COVID-19 surges to prevent complications related to SARS-CoV-2 infection, particularly in the older adult and in non-older adult individuals with risk factors.
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spelling doaj-art-e3d2912f99fb4142a8fbcbde07b3dc562025-08-20T03:01:58ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-03-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.15394531539453Burden of acute and long-term COVID-19: a nationwide study in BahrainMariam Murad0Stephen L. Atkin1Pearl Wasif2Alwaleed Abdulaziz Behzad3Aamal M. J. Abdulla Husain4Roisin Leahy5Florence Lefebvre d’Hellencourt6Jean Joury7Mohamed Abdel Aziz8Srinivas Rao Valluri9Hammam Haridy10Julia Spinardi11Moe H. Kyaw12Manaf Al-Qahtani13Manaf Al-Qahtani14Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Al Muharraq, BahrainRoyal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Al Muharraq, BahrainRoyal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Al Muharraq, BahrainSalmanyia Medical Complex, Manama, BahrainPrimary Health Care Center, Manama, BahrainRoyal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, IrelandPfizer Inc., New York, NY, United StatesPfizer Gulf FZ LLC, Dubai, United Arab EmiratesPfizer Gulf FZ LLC, Dubai, United Arab EmiratesPfizer Inc., New York, NY, United StatesPfizer Gulf FZ LLC, Dubai, United Arab EmiratesPfizer Inc., São Paulo, BrazilPfizer Inc., New York, NY, United StatesRoyal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Al Muharraq, BahrainBahrain Defence Force Royal Medical Services Military Hospital, West Riffa, BahrainBackgroundCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may lead to long-term sequelae. This study aimed to understand the acute and post-acute burden of SARS-CoV-2 infection and to identify high-risk groups for post-COVID-19 conditions (PCC).MethodsA retrospective observational study of the Bahraini population was conducted between 1 May 2021 and 30 April 2023, utilizing the national administrative database. PCC cases were defined according to WHO guidelines. All COVID-19 cases were confirmed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).ResultsOf 13,067 COVID-19 cases, 12,022 of them experienced acute COVID-19, and 1,045 of them developed PCC. Individuals with PCC tended to be older women with risk factors and instances of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection. The incidence rates per 100,000 individuals during the Alpha pandemic surge (2020), Delta pandemic surge (2021), and Omicron pandemic surge (2022) were 2.2, 137.2, and 222.5 for acute COVID-19, and 0.27, 10.5, and 19.3, respectively, for PCC cases. The death rates per 100,000 individuals during the Alpha, Delta, and Omicron pandemic surges were 3, 112, and 76, respectively, for acute COVID-19 and 1, 10, and 8, respectively, for PCC. The death rate was highest among those aged 65 and older during the Delta pandemic surge.ConclusionThese findings suggest the need for a timely national vaccination program prior to new COVID-19 surges to prevent complications related to SARS-CoV-2 infection, particularly in the older adult and in non-older adult individuals with risk factors.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1539453/fullSARS-CoV-2COVID-19long COVID-19 diseaserespiratory diseasepneumonia
spellingShingle Mariam Murad
Stephen L. Atkin
Pearl Wasif
Alwaleed Abdulaziz Behzad
Aamal M. J. Abdulla Husain
Roisin Leahy
Florence Lefebvre d’Hellencourt
Jean Joury
Mohamed Abdel Aziz
Srinivas Rao Valluri
Hammam Haridy
Julia Spinardi
Moe H. Kyaw
Manaf Al-Qahtani
Manaf Al-Qahtani
Burden of acute and long-term COVID-19: a nationwide study in Bahrain
Frontiers in Public Health
SARS-CoV-2
COVID-19
long COVID-19 disease
respiratory disease
pneumonia
title Burden of acute and long-term COVID-19: a nationwide study in Bahrain
title_full Burden of acute and long-term COVID-19: a nationwide study in Bahrain
title_fullStr Burden of acute and long-term COVID-19: a nationwide study in Bahrain
title_full_unstemmed Burden of acute and long-term COVID-19: a nationwide study in Bahrain
title_short Burden of acute and long-term COVID-19: a nationwide study in Bahrain
title_sort burden of acute and long term covid 19 a nationwide study in bahrain
topic SARS-CoV-2
COVID-19
long COVID-19 disease
respiratory disease
pneumonia
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1539453/full
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