scholarly journals SARS-CoV-2 Mortality Surveillance among Community Deaths brought to University Teaching Hospital Mortuary in Lusaka, Zambia, 2020

Author(s):  
Amos Hamukale ◽  
Jonas Z Hines ◽  
Nyambe Sinyange ◽  
Sombo Fwoloshi ◽  
Warren Malambo ◽  
...  

Introduction: During March-December 2020, Zambia recorded 20,725 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with the first wave peaking between July and August. Of the 388 COVID-19-related deaths occurring nationwide, most occurred in the community. We report findings from COVID-19 mortality surveillance among community deaths brought to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) mortuary in Lusaka. Methods: In Zambia, when a person dies in the community, and is brought into a health facility mortuary, they are recorded as 'brought in dead' (BID). The UTH mortuary accepts persons BID for Lusaka District, the most populated district in Zambia. We analyzed data for persons BID at UTH during 2020. We analyzed two data sources: weekly SARS-CoV-2 test results for persons BID and monthly all-cause mortality numbers among persons BID. For all-cause mortality among persons BID, monthly deaths during 2020 that were above the upper bound of the 95% confidence interval for the historic mean (2017-2019) were considered significant. Spearman's rank test was used to correlate the overall percent positivity in Zambia with all-cause mortality and SARS-CoV-2 testing among persons BID at UTH mortuary. Results: During 2020, 7,756 persons were BID at UTH (monthly range 556-810). SARS-CoV-2 testing began in April 2020, and through December 3,131 (51.9%) of 6,022 persons BID were tested. Of these, 212 (6.8%) were SARS-CoV-2 positive with weekly percent test positivity ranging from 0-32%, with the highest positivity occurring during July 2020. There were 1,139 excess persons BID from all causes at UTH mortuary in 2020 compared to the 2017-2019 mean. The monthly number of persons BID from all causes was above the upper bound of the 95% confidence interval during June-September and December. Conclusion: Increases in all-cause mortality and SARS-CoV-2 test positivity among persons BID at UTH mortuary corresponded with the first peak of the COVID-19 epidemic in June and August 2020, indicating possible increased mortality related to the COVID-19 epidemic in Zambia. Combining all-cause mortality and SARS-CoV-2 testing for persons BID provides useful information about the severity of the epidemic in Lusaka and should be implemented throughout Zambia.

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 199-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moono Silitongo ◽  
◽  
Dailesi Ndlovu ◽  
Kasonde Bowa ◽  
Krikor Erzingatsian ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. OED.S12672
Author(s):  
Kagmeni Giles ◽  
Moukouri Ernest ◽  
Domngang Christelle ◽  
Nguefack-Tsague Georges ◽  
Cheuteu Raoul ◽  
...  

We assessed the outcomes of the use of anterior chamber foldable lens for unilateral aphakia correction at the University Teaching Hospital of Yaounde. In this retrospective, non-comparative, consecutive case series study, we reviewed the records of patients who underwent an operation for aphakia correction by the means of injection of an angular supported foldable lens between January 2009 and December 2011 in the University Teaching Hospital Yaounde. Student's paired t-test was carried out to compare preoperative and postoperative visual acuity (VA) and intraocular pressure (TOP). P-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Twenty-one patients were included in the study; twelve were male (57.1%) and nine were female (42.9%). The mean age was 55.38 ± 17.67 years (range 9–75 years). The mean follow-up duration was 5.95 ± 3.14 months (range 2–12 months). The mean logMAR visual acuity was 1.26 ± 0.46 pre-operatively and 0.78 ± 0.57 post-operatively ( P = 0.003). The change in intraocular pressure was not statistically significant. Complications included intraocular hypertension (over 21 mmHg) in 3 patients (14.3%) and macular edema, pupillar ovalization, and retinal detachment in one patient each. The results indicate that injection of an angular support foldable lens in the anterior chamber is a useful technique for the correction of aphakia in eyes without capsular support. More extended follow-up, however, and a larger series of patients are needed to ascertain the effectiveness and safety of this procedure.


2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (21) ◽  
pp. 197
Author(s):  
Patrice Emmanuel Awono Ateba ◽  
Justin Ndié ◽  
Julienne Louise Ngo Likeng ◽  
Benjamin Alexandre Nkoum

Nowadays, strokes constitute a real public health problem in the world. In Cameroon, because of the people’s lifestyle potential risk factor, the prevalence of hemorrhagic strokes as well as its mortality is on the rise. This study was aimed at analyzing the evolutionary profile of hemorrhagic strokes at the General Hospital and the University Teaching Hospital in Yaoundé. A retrospective cross-sectional study with a qualitative component was carried out at the General Hospital and the University Teaching Hospital in Yaoundé for 2 months. Were included, all patients with a diagnosis of hemorrhagic strokes confirmed by CT Scan. With the help of a scale, patient data over a 30 month’s period (2013-2015) were collected. Over 1037 patients hospitalized in intensive care unit at the General Hospital and the University Teaching Hospital in Yaoundé, 122 cases of hemorrhagic strokes were diagnosed, that is a prevalence of 11.8%. The average age was 58±10.52 and the most vulnerable age range was between 50 and 70 years with 67.2%. Men were most affected (60.7%) with a sex ratio of 1.54(74 men/48 women). Among these cases of hemorrhagic strokes still hospitalized, 70 had died giving a lethality rate of 57.4%. Only the duration of hospitalization had an effect on the outcome of patients with hemorrhagic strokes. Actually the patients, victims of hemorrhagic strokes who had had less than 21 days of hospitalization, had 2.91 chances of dying as compared to those patients hospitalized for over 21 days (OR=2.91 IC 95% [5.1-65.7]; p=0.000). The late admission to reanimation, the difficulties encountered by victims of hemorrhagic strokes and their careers, to handle the enormous cost of their treatment and the insufficiencies of the technical platform, were factors also influencing the evolution of hemorrhagic strokes hospitalized in reanimation at the General Hospital and the University Teaching Hospital in Yaoundé. Despite certain efforts aimed at reducing premature mortality, the prevalence of hemorrhagic strokes was increasing in reanimation at the General Hospital and University Teaching Hospital in Yaoundé. Only multisectorial actions of sensitization, the restructuring and amelioration of the care of this ailment will help reverse the evolutionary trend.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 555-562
Author(s):  
Clayton T. Buback ◽  
Omar K. Siddiqi ◽  
Innocent Titima ◽  
Olga Selioutski ◽  
Gretchen L. Birbeck

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