• Ngozi Mirabel Otuonye, Testimony Jesupamilerin Olumade, Mercy Mayowa Ojetunde, Susan Abba Holdbrooke, Joy Boluwatife Ayoola, Itse Yusuf Nyam, Bamidele Iwalokun, Chika Onwuamah, Mabel Uwandu, Akinola Abayomi, Akin Osibogun, Abimbola Bowale, Bodunrin Osikomaiya, Babafemi Thomas, Bamidele Mutiu, and Nkiruka Nnonyelum Odunukwe.
• Central Research Laboratory, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos. Electronic address: mnotuonye@gmail.com.
• J Natl Med Assoc. 2021 Jun 1; 113 (3): 301-306.

IntroductionCOVID-19 is an emerging, rapidly evolving global situation, infecting over 25 million people and causing more than 850,000 deaths. Several signs and symptoms have been described to be characteristic of the disease. However, there is a dearth of report on the description of the clinical characteristics of the disease in patients from Nigeria. This study was designed to provide a description of the clinical and demographic characteristics of COVID-19 patients in Nigeria.MethodsThis study is a case series that includes patients that are evaluated between May and August 2020, and diagnosed with COVID-19. Patient health records were reviewed and evaluated to describe the clinical characteristics on presentation.ResultsA total of 154 COVID-19 patients were included in this study, with a mean age (S.D.) of 46.16 (13.701). Most of the patients survived (mortality rate of 2.6%), and were symptomatic (89.6%). There were more males (74.7%) than females, and the most common symptoms were fever, breathing difficulty, dry cough and malaise. Co-morbidities were also present in almost half of the study participants (49.4%).ConclusionThis study presents the most extensive description, to date, on the clinical and demographic characteristics of COVID-19 patients in Nigeria. Males are more likely than females to be infected with COVID-19 and the most occurring symptoms are fever, breathing difficulty, malaise, dry cough and chest pain. Old age and the presence of co-morbidities may also be associated with developing the severe disease.Copyright © 2020 National Medical Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

21 keywords...

hide…