<
https://www.sciencealert.com/long-covid-rate-in-africa-is-almost-50-of-cases-researchers-warn>
'Almost half the people known to have contracted COVID-19 in Africa are now
living with the effects of long COVID, according to a comprehensive review of
previous studies and analysis, covering data from a total of 29, 213 people.
Officially, long COVID means persisting symptoms three months after infection
with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Worldwide, at least 10 percent of infected people
are thought to suffer from the condition, with recently published research
indicating higher rates in multiple countries.
Incidence rates in Africa, though, are well above any of these other estimates.
Why that is the case is unclear. In low-income countries, estimates of the
incidence of long COVID vary greatly, due to hidden infections and the
difficulty of accessing tests.
Between African nations, for instance, previous estimates range from just 2
percent in Ghana to 86 percent in Egypt.
The fact that fewer than 51.8 percent of people in African nations are fully
vaccinated could also be another factor at play. Yet specific data on
vaccination status and COVID-19 outcomes in this part of the world are largely
unknown.
What's more, a large percentage of the patients analyzed in the current review
were hospitalized or admitted to the intensive care unit, indicating a bias
toward the most severe cases.
The team behind the review, led by researchers from the University of Bari in
Italy, wants more research to be done, so that experts can properly assess the
impact of long COVID on the African continent and get treatment and support to
those who need it.
"To our knowledge, this is the first meta-analysis exploring prevalence, risk
factors and symptomatology of long COVID in Africa," write the researchers in
their published paper.
"Nearly 50 percent of the people included in this meta-analysis exhibited long
COVID symptoms. This finding reinforces the critical significance of this
emerging condition."'
Via Rixty Dixet.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
