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Loyola S, Cano-Pérez E, Torres-Pacheco J, Malambo-Garcia D, Gomez R, Gomez-Camargo D. Epidemiology of COVID-19 in Individuals under 18 Years Old in Cartagena, Colombia: An Ecological Study of the First 14 Months of the Pandemic. Trop Med Infect Dis 2022; 7:107. [PMID: 35736985 PMCID: PMC9228173 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed7060107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The epidemiology of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been scarcely described in individuals under 18 years old, particularly during the first months of the pandemic. The study aimed to describe the COVID-19 epidemiology in the Colombian department of Bolívar from March 2020 to April 2021 among individuals under 18 years. Furthermore, we explored whether the use of data generated by a Bolívar reference laboratory captures the departmental epidemiology. Two information sources were used; the national COVID-19 surveillance system and the Bolívar COVID-19 reference laboratory. In using a population-based ecological approach and information from confirmed symptomatic cases, epidemic curves and heat maps were constructed to assess the COVID-19 dynamics and patterns by sex, age, and residence (Cartagena vs. 45 other municipalities). The COVID-19 incidence was comparable between males and females but varied by age group, being higher in children aged 10 years and older. Cartagena had a significantly higher number of cases and experienced early epidemic peaks. Our analyses suggest that information generated by the reference laboratory does not capture the COVID-19 departmental epidemiology, despite conducting population-based surveillance across Bolívar. The study provides a retrospective characterization of the COVID-19 epidemiology in an understudied population and information that may be useful for future evidence-based responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steev Loyola
- Molecular Research Unit (UNIMOL), Faculty of Medicine, University of Cartagena, Cartagena de Indias 130014, Colombia; (E.C.-P.); (J.T.-P.); (D.M.-G.)
- PhD Program in Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cartagena, Cartagena de Indias 130014, Colombia;
- Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima 150135, Peru
| | - Eder Cano-Pérez
- Molecular Research Unit (UNIMOL), Faculty of Medicine, University of Cartagena, Cartagena de Indias 130014, Colombia; (E.C.-P.); (J.T.-P.); (D.M.-G.)
| | - Jaison Torres-Pacheco
- Molecular Research Unit (UNIMOL), Faculty of Medicine, University of Cartagena, Cartagena de Indias 130014, Colombia; (E.C.-P.); (J.T.-P.); (D.M.-G.)
| | - Dacia Malambo-Garcia
- Molecular Research Unit (UNIMOL), Faculty of Medicine, University of Cartagena, Cartagena de Indias 130014, Colombia; (E.C.-P.); (J.T.-P.); (D.M.-G.)
- PhD Program in Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cartagena, Cartagena de Indias 130014, Colombia;
| | - Ruben Gomez
- PhD Program in Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cartagena, Cartagena de Indias 130014, Colombia;
| | - Doris Gomez-Camargo
- Molecular Research Unit (UNIMOL), Faculty of Medicine, University of Cartagena, Cartagena de Indias 130014, Colombia; (E.C.-P.); (J.T.-P.); (D.M.-G.)
- PhD Program in Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cartagena, Cartagena de Indias 130014, Colombia;
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