Incidence and predictors of death from COVID-19 among patients admitted to treatment center of Wollega University Referral Hospital, Western Ethiopia: A retrospective cohort study

COVID-19 mortality rate and its determinants in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

The COVID-19 mortality rate continues to be high in low-income countries like Ethiopia as the new variant's transmission expands and the countries' limited capacity to combat the disease causes severe outcomes, including deaths. The aim of this study is to determine the magnitude of the COVID-19 mortality rate and its determinants in Ethiopia.

Methods

The main electronic databases searched were PubMed, CINAHL, Google Scholar, and African journals online. The included studies' qualities were assessed independently using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. The data was extracted in Microsoft Excel spreadsheet format. The pooled effect size and odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals across studies were determined using the random-effects model. I2 is used to estimate the percentage of overall variation across studies due to heterogeneity. Egger's test and funnel plot were used to find the published bias. A subgroup analysis was conducted. The effect of a single study on the overall estimation was determined by sensitivity analysis.

Results

A total of 21 studies with 42,307 study participants were included in the final analysis. The pooled prevalence of COVID-19 mortality was 14.44% (95% CI: 10.35-19.08%), with high significant heterogeneity (I2 = 98.92%, p < 0.001). The risk of mortality from COVID-19 disease was higher for patients with comorbidity (AHR = 1.84, 95% CI: 1.13-2.54) and cardiovascular disease (AHR = 2, 95% CI: 1.09-2.99) than their counterparts without these conditions.

Conclusion

A significant number of COVID-19 patients died in Ethiopia. COVID-19 patients with comorbidities, particularly those with cardiovascular disease, should receive special attention to reduce COVID-19 mortality.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, registration identifier (ID) CRD42020165740.

Mortality rate and predictors of COVID-19 inpatients in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an extremely rare virus that devastates the economy and claims human lives. Despite countries' urgent and tenacious public health responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, the disease is killing a large number of people. The results of prior studies have not been used by policymakers and programmers due to the presence of conflicting results. As a result, this study was conducted to fill the knowledge gap and develop a research agenda.

Objective

This study aimed to assess the mortality rate and predictors of COVID-19 hospitalized patients in Ethiopia.

Methods

Electronic databases were searched to find articles that were conducted using a retrospective cohort study design and published in English up to 2022. The data were extracted using a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and exported to StataTM version 17.0 for further analysis. The presence of heterogeneity was assessed and presented using a forest plot. The subgroup analysis, meta-regression, and publication bias were computed to identify the source of heterogeneity. The pool COVID-19 mortality rate and its predictors were calculated and identified using the random effects meta-analysis model, respectively. The significant predictors identified were reported using a relative risk ratio and 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results

Seven studies with 31,498 participants were included. The pooled mortality rate of COVID-19 was 9.13 (95% CI: 5.38, 12.88) per 1,000 person-days of mortality-free observation. Those study participants who had chronic kidney disease had 2.29 (95% CI: 1.14, 4.60) times higher chance of experiencing mortality than their corresponding counterparts, diabetics had 2.14 (95% CI: 1.22, 3.76), HIV patients had 2.98 (95% CI: 1.26, 7.03), hypertensive patients had 1.63 (95% CI: 1.43, 1.85), and smoker had 2.35 (95% CI: 1.48, 3.73).

Conclusion

COVID-19 mortality rate was high to tackle the epidemic of the disease in Ethiopia. COVID-19 patients with chronic renal disease, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, and HIV were the significant predictors of mortality among COVID-19 patients in Ethiopia. COVID-19 patients with chronic diseases and comorbidities need special attention, close follow-up, and care from all stakeholders.

In-hospital mortality and length of stay of patients with hypertensive crisis treated at public hospitals in Harari Regional State, Eastern Ethiopia

Hypertensive crisis poses substantial cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to assess in-hospital mortality, length of stay (LOS), and their predictors among patients with hypertensive crisis treated at public hospitals in Harari Regional State, Eastern Ethiopia. An institutional-based retrospective cohort study was conducted from October 1 to 31, 2022. The medical records of 328 patients with hypertensive crisis treated at two public hospitals between September 1, 2017 and August 31, 2022 were reviewed. Cox proportional hazards regression and negative binomial regression were used to identify predictors of in-hospital mortality and LOS, respectively. The in-hospital mortality rate of patients with hypertensive crisis was 18.94 (95% confidence interval (CI): 12.08-29.70) per 1000 person-day observation. The median (interquartile range) LOS of these patients was 10 (4-120) hours. Age ≥65 years (adjusted hazard ratio (AHR): 3.30; 95% CI: 1.17- 9.33); increment in initial systolic blood pressure (AHR: 1.040; 95% CI: 1.014-1.066); and having acute brain-related damage (AHR: 4.02; 95% CI: 1.48-10.88) were predictors of in-hospital mortality. Rural residence (adjusted incident-rate ratio (IRR): 1.34; 95% CI: 1.03-1.75); having a history of medication discontinuation (adjusted IRR: 1.59; 95% CI: 1.16-2.18); comorbidity (adjusted IRR: 1.90; 95% CI: 1.49-2.43); acute brain-related damage (adjusted IRR: 13.32; 95% CI: 9.22-19.24), acute cardiac-related damage (adjusted IRR: 7.40; 95% CI: 4.90-11.16); and acute kidney injury (adjusted IRR: 7.64; 95% CI: 5.46-10.69) were predictors of LOS. Thus, it is necessary to develop strategies that allow early screening and follow-up of patients at risk.