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Epidemiological situation of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Douala, the most populated and highly heterogeneous town of Cameroon: a post-vaccination update

2023; Elsevier BV; Volume: 241; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.106864

1873-6254

Arlette Flore Moguem Soubgui, Elisee Libert Embolo Enyegue, Loick Pradel Kojom Foko, Wilfried Steve Ndeme Mboussi, Gildas Deutou Hogoue, Suzy Pascale Mbougang, Sandra Michelle Sanda, Isaac Ulrich Fotso Chidjou, Valery Fabrice Fotso, Steve Armand Nzogang Tchonet, Christiane Medi Sike, Martin Luther Koanga Mogtomo,

COVID-19 diagnosis using AI

This study aimed at providing an update of SARS-CoV-2 epidemiology in Douala, the most populated and highly heterogeneous town of Cameroon. A hospital-based cross sectional study was conducted from January to September 2022. A questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic, anthropometric, and clinical data. Retrotranscriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect SARS-CoV-2 in nasopharyngeal samples. Of the 2354 individuals approached, 420 were included. The mean age of patients was 42.3 ± 14.4 years (range 21 - 82). The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was 8.1%. The risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2 was increased more than seven times in patients aged ≥ 70 years old (aRR = 7.12, p = 0.001), more than six times in married (aRR = 6.60, p = 0.02), more than seven times in those having completed secondary studies (aRR = 7.85, p = 0.02), HIV-positive patients (aRR = 7.64, p < 0.0001) and asthmatic patients (aRR = 7.60, p = 0.003), and more than nine times in those seeking health care regularly (aRR = 9.24, p = 0.001). In contrast, the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection was reduced by 86% in patients attending Bonassama hospital (aRR = 0.14, p = 0.04), by 93% in patients of blood group B (aRR = 0.07, p = 0.04), and by 95% in COVID-19 vaccinated participants (aRR = 0.05, p = 0.005). There is need for ongoing surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in Cameroon, given the position and importance of Douala.