Investigation of possible preventable causes of COVID-19 deaths in the Kampala Metropolitan Area, Uganda, 2020–2021
In: International Journal of Infectious Diseases, Jg. 122 (2022-09-01), Heft 10-14, S. 10-14
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Zugriff:
Background: : Identifying preventable causes of COVID-19 deaths is key to reducing mortality. We investigated possible preventable causes of COVID-19 deaths over a six-month period in Uganda. Methods: A case-patient was a person testing reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction–positive for SARS-CoV-2 who died in Kampala Metropolitan Area hospitals from August 2020 to February 2021. We reviewed records and interviewed health workers and case-patient caretakers. Results: We investigated 126 (65%) of 195 reported COVID-19 deaths during the investigation period; 89 (71%) were male, and the median age was 61 years. A total of 98 (78%) had underlying medical conditions. Most (118, 94%) had advanced disease at admission to the hospital where they died. A total of 44 (35%) did not receive a COVID-19 test at their first presentation to a health facility despite having consistent symptoms. A total of 95 (75%) needed intensive care unit admission, of whom 45 (47%) received it; 74 (59%) needed mechanical ventilation, of whom 47 (64%) received it. Conclusion: Among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 who died in this investigation, early opportunities for diagnosis were frequently missed, and there was inadequate intensive care unit capacity. Emphasis is needed on COVID-19 as a differential diagnosis, early testing, and care-seeking at specialized facilities before the illness reaches a critical stage. Increased capacity for intensive care is needed.
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Investigation of possible preventable causes of COVID-19 deaths in the Kampala Metropolitan Area, Uganda, 2020–2021
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Autor/in / Beteiligte Person: | Eyu, Patricia ; Elyanu, Peter ; Ario, Alex R. ; Ntono, Vivian ; Birungi, Doreen ; Rukundo, Gerald ; Nanziri, Carol ; Wadunde, Ignatius ; Migisha, Richard ; Katana, Elizabeth ; Oumo, Peter ; Morukileng, Job ; Harris, Julie R. |
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Zeitschrift: | International Journal of Infectious Diseases, Jg. 122 (2022-09-01), Heft 10-14, S. 10-14 |
Veröffentlichung: | Elsevier, 2022 |
Medientyp: | academicJournal |
ISSN: | 1201-9712 (print) |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.ijid.2022.05.033 |
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