• Margarete Lt Arrais, Welwitschia A F Dias, Maura P A Silva, Luquenia E S Neto, Naiol M F Pedro, Sónia F I Jungo, Avelina R C Miguel, Elsa M V Fortes-Gabriel, Cruz S Sebastião, Jorge M R Gama, and Miguel D Brito.
• Department of Pulmonology, Military Hospital, Luanda, Angola.
• Afr Health Sci. 2023 Dec 1; 23 (4): 516351-63.

BackgroundThe impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Africa is still unclear. In comparison to Europe and North America, morbidity and death rates are lower. Several factors have been proposed, including geographical variation in virus impact, environmental factors, differences in age distribution, and the impact of infectious diseases such as malaria, HIV infection and tuberculosis.ObjectivesWe investigated the clinical characteristics and putative determinants linked with COVID-19 in Angolan patients.MethodsCross-sectional study undertaken at Military Hospital, Luanda, from March 2020 to March 2021. The survey collected sociodemographic and clinical information.ResultsThe sample included 1,683 patients aged ≥18 years, 64% men, with mean age of 46.3 years. SARS-CoV-2 was positive in 39% of the cases with RT-PCR. Patients ≥46 years with a level of education of ≥12 years had a considerably higher likelihood of testing positive. About 58% of positive patients had at least one comorbidity, of which hypertension and Diabetes were associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. HIV and pulmonary TB were putative protective factors. About 14% of positive patients died. Most deaths occurred in patients ≥46 years, with less education and unemployed. Working as a healthcare practitioner was linked to a protective effect. Malignant diseases were the most common comorbidities associated with death.ConclusionsWe identified putative factors related to SARS-CoV-2 infection and mortality. HIV and TB were protective and not associated with mortality. Further study with a broader scope should be conducted to explain the main features related to COVID-19 mortality in Angola.© 2023 Arrais MLT et al.

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