Incidence and burden of long COVID in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis, 2023, Frallonardo et al.

Incidence and burden of long COVID in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Frallonardo, Luisa; Segala, Francesco Vladimiro; Chhaganlal, Kajal D.; Yelshazly, Mohmaoud; Novara, Roberta; Cotugno, Sergio; Guido, Giacomo; Papagni, Roberta; Colpani, Agnese; De Vito, Andrea; Barbagallo, Mario; Madeddu, Giordano; Babudieri, Sergio; Lochoro, Peter; Ictho, Jerry; Putoto, Giovanni; Veronese, Nicola; Saracino, Annalisa; Di Gennaro, Francesco

Long COVID, also known as “post-acute sequelae of COVID-19,” affects at least 65 million individuals worldwide with a wide spectrum of symptoms that may last weeks, months, or permanently. Its epidemiology and burden in Africa are unclear.

This meta-analysis examines long-term COVID-19 effects in the WHO African Region. A systematic search in several databases was carried out up to 12 February 2023 including observational studies from African countries reporting the cumulative incidence of long COVID signs and symptoms. Only studies conducted in African countries were included. Several sensitivity and meta-regression analyses were performed. Among 1547 papers initially screened, 25 were included, consisting of 29,213 participants.

The incidence of any long COVID symptomatology was 48.6% (95% CI 37.4–59.8) as psychiatric conditions were the most frequent, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder reaching a cumulative incidence of 25% (95% CI 21.1–30.4). Higher age (p = 0.027) and hospitalization (p = 0.05) were associated with a higher frequency of long COVID. Long COVID poses a significant burden in Africa, particularly concerning psychiatric conditions.

The study recommends identifying at-risk people and defining treatment strategies and recommendations for African long-COVID patients. High-quality studies addressing this condition in African setting are urgently needed.

Link | PDF (Nature Scientific Reports)

 

I think this should have been more prominent in the abstract —

 

Summary article:
Nearly half of COVID survivors in Africa have lingering symptoms, data reveal
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19...rs-africa-have-lingering-symptoms-data-reveal

 

Related history, the famine of corms in Tanzania.

Time: What Long Flu Sufferers of the 1918-1919 Pandemic Can Tell Us About Long COVID Today
Africa Center for Strategic Studies: Lessons from the 1918-1919 Spanish Flu Pandemic in Africa