Clinical Characteristics, Complications and Predictors of Outcome of Hospitalized Adult Sudanese Patients with COVID-19 and Malaria Co-Infection in Sudan: A Multi-Center Retrospective Cross-sectional Study

Malaria and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) share several characteristics that could lead to cross‐infection, particularly in malaria‐endemic areas. Early COVID‐19 symptoms might be misdiagnosed for malaria in clinical settings. Also, both diseases can cause fatal complications. So, laboratory testing for both diseases was recommended by the World Health Organization. To study the clinical characteristics and outcomes of Adult Sudanese patients with COVID‐19 and malaria coinfection. This retrospective cross‐sectional study was conducted from January 2021 to October 2021 in Wad Medani. Total coverage of all Sudanese patients above 18 years old with a confirmed diagnosis of coinfection with COVID‐19 and malaria was included, and data were collected using a data collection sheet. Data were analyzed using R software version 4.0.2. Data were described and presented as mean, standard deviation, and number (percentage). To find associated factors with in‐hospital outcome, χ² test, fisher exact test, and independent t test or Wilcoxon rank‐sum test were used. In this study, 156 participants were diagnosed with COVID‐19 and malaria coinfection. Most of them were between 60 and 70 years (30.8%), the majority were males (59%). Shortness of breath (76.3%) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (35.3%) were the most common symptom and complications among coinfected patients, respectively. Ground glass opacity (n = 47/49, 95.9%) is the most common result for computed tomography scan. Atrial fibrillation was the most common abnormal electrocardiogram finding (n = 6/62, 9.7%). Overall mortality among all participants was (63/156, 40.4%). High mortality rate was found among the coinfected patients. More attention is needed towards fighting COVID‐19 and malaria coinfection. There may be a link between malaria and COVID‐19.

Clinical Characteristics and Risk Factors Associated with Severe Disease Progression among COVID-19 Patients In Wad Medani Isolation Centers: A Multicenter Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study

Background

Since December 2019, (COVID-19) has had a significant impact on global health systems. Because little is known about the clinical characteristics and risk factors connected with COVID-19 severity in Sudanese patients, it is vital to summarize the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients and to investigate the risk factors linked to COVID-19 severity.

Objectives

We aimed to assess the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients and look into risk factors associated with COVID-19 severity.

Methods

This is a retrospective cross-sectional study that took place in two Isolation Centers in Wad Medani, Gezira State, Sudan. Four hundred and eighteen patients were included between May 2020 and May 2021. All COVID-19 patients over the age of 18 who were proven COVID-19 positive by nucleic acid testing or had characteristics suggestive of COVID-19 on a chest CT scan and had a complete medical record in the study period were included.

Results

The participants in this study were 418 confirmed COVID-19 cases with a median age of 66.313 years. There were 279 men (66.7%) among the patients. The most prevalent comorbidities were hypertension (n = 195; 46.7%) and diabetes (n = 187; 44.7%). Fever (n = 303; 72.5%), cough (n = 278; 66.5%), and dyspnea (n = 256; 61.2%) were the most prevalent symptoms at the onset of COVID-19. The overall mortality rate (n = 148) was 35.4%. Patients with severe illness had a mortality rate of 42.3% (n = 118). Older age, anemia, neutrophilia, and lymphocytopenia, as well as higher glucose, HbA1c, and creatinine levels, were all linked to severe COVID-19, according to the chi-square test and analysis of variance analysis.

Conclusion

Sixteen variables were found to be associated with COVID-19 severity. These patients are more prone to go through a serious infection and as a result have a greater death rate than those who do not have these characteristics.

Hypocalcemia and massive pulmonary embolism in SLE patient with COVID-19 infection: A case report

A 16-year-old female patient presented to our ED with fever and coughing of blood for 3 days. She is known to have SLE for 5 months and takes oral prednisone. She was tested positive for COVID-19. She developed hypocalcemia with clinically diagnosed massive pulmonary embolism. She was treated with heparin and recovered.