Profile and outcomes of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 at a tertiary institution hospital in Ghana

Background: In high-income countries, mortality related to hospitalized patients with the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is approximately 4-5% However, data on COVID-19 admissions from sub-Saharan Africa are scanty Objective: To describe the clinical profile and determinants of outcomes of patients with confirmed COVID-19 admitted at a hospital in Ghana Methods: A prospective study involving 25 patients with real time polymerase chain reaction confirmed COVID-19 admitted to the treatment centre of the University Hospital, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana from 1st June to 27th July, 2020 They were managed and followed up for outcomes Data were analysed descriptively, and predictors of mortality assessed using a multivariate logistic regression modelling Results: The mean age of the patients was 59 3 ± 20 6 years, and 14 (56%) were males The main symptoms at presentation were breathlessness (68%) followed by fever (56%) The cases were categorized as mild (6), moderate (6), severe (10) and critical (3) Hypertension was the commonest comorbidity present in 72% of patients Medications used in patient management included dexamethasone (68%), azithromycin (96%), and hydroxychloroquine (4%) Five of 25 cases died (Case fatality ratio 20%) Increasing age and high systolic blood pressure were associated with mortality Conclusion: Case fatality in this sample of hospitalized COVID-19 patients was high Thorough clinical assessment, severity stratification, aggressive management of underlying co-morbidities and standardized protocols in-country might improve outcomes © 2021 Bioexcel Publishing LTD All rights reserved