Background Older persons and people of any age with certain underlying comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, lung disease, kidney disease, liver disease, and cancer are at a higher risk of severe disease course and death if they become infected with COVID-19. Identifying at-risk groups and risk factors for COVID-19 severity and mortality is important for guiding the efficient and appropriate prevention and management of patients with COVID-19. Objective This study aimed at describing the demographics and epidemiologic characteristics of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Egypt and determining the impact of different comorbidities on patients’ outcomes. Methods The data of all confirmed COVID-19 patients admitted to 408 governmental hospitals all over Egypt from February to May 2020 were collected retrospectively from the National Egyptian Disease Surveillance System. The cases were confirmed using RT-PCR. Results Overall, 28,415 patients (55% male and 45% female) were identified. Their median age was 44 years. Of those, 743 (2.6%) were admitted to ICU, 408 (1.4%) required ventilator, and 1045 (3.7%) died. Of the 21,617 (76.1%) patients with completed data, 4687 (21.7%) had comorbidities. Overall, 11.8% had diabetes, 5.3% cardiovascular disease, and 4.3% chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Those who had 1 comorbidity were more likely to die (odds ratio 2.83), were admitted to ICU (odds ratio 6.36), and needed a ventilator (odds ratio 5.95) compared to patients with no comorbidities. Having multiple comorbidities increased the risk of mortality (odds ratio 3.53), ICU admission (odds ratio 8.62), and requiring a ventilator (odds ratio 9.06). Conclusions COVID-19 patients with comorbidities had a higher risk of disease severity and mortality. Multiple comorbidities further increase the risk to a higher extent. All necessary precautions should be taken for patients with comorbidities to avoid COVID-19 infection in order to prevent the worst prognosis.

BACKGROUND Older population and people of any age with underlying certain comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular, lung disease, kidney disease, liver disease and cancer are at higher risk of severe disease course and death if they become infected with COVID-19. Identifying risky group and risk factors for COVID-19 severity and mortality is important for guiding efficient and appropriate prevention and management of patients with COVID-19. OBJECTIVE This study aims at describing demographics and epidemiologic characteristics of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Egypt and determine the impact of different comorbidities on patients’ outcomes. METHODS Data of all confirmed COVID-19 patients admitted to 408 governmental hospitals allover Egypt February-May 2020 were collected retrospectively from the National Egyptian Disease Surveillance System. Cases were confirmed using RT-PCR. RESULTS Overall, 28,415 patients (55.0% males, 45.0% females) were identified. Their median age was 44 years. Of those, 743(2.6%) were admitted to ICU, 408(1.4%) required ventilator and 1,045(3.7%) died. Of 21,617(76.1%) patients with completed data, 4,687(21.7%) had comorbidities. Overall, 11.8% had diabetes, 5.3% cardiovascular disease and 4.3% chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Those with one comorbidity were more likely to die (OR = 2.83), admitted to ICU (OR = 6.36) and need ventilator (OR = 5.95) compared to patients with no comorbidities. Having multiple comorbidities increased risk of mortality (OR = 3.53), ICU admission (OR = 8.62), and requiring ventilator (OR = 9.06). CONCLUSIONS COVID-19 Patients with comorbidities had higher risk of disease severity and mortality. Multiple comorbidities further increase the risk to higher extent. All necessary precautions should be taken for patients with comorbidities to avoid COVID-19 infection to prevent the worst prognosis.

Background Globally, there is a growing need for public health professionals skilled in preventing and responding to the surge of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. This is particularly important to the Eastern Mediterranean countries that are facing emergencies in addition to the increased public health risks of unprecedented scale during the COVID-19 pandemic. Public health professionals are instrumental in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of detecting and monitoring new cases, conducting investigations, tracing contacts, ensuring patients are being tested, applying isolation and quarantine protocols, providing up-to-date information, educating the community, and producing statistics and models to track disease progression. Objective This study aims to compare knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) regarding COVID-19 between public health workers (PHWs) that attended the Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP trained) and those who did not attend FETP (non-FETP trained). Methods A multicountry cross-sectional survey was conducted among PHWs who participated in the COVID-19 pandemic in 10 countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. An online questionnaire that included demographic information and KAP regarding the COVID-19 pandemic was distributed among PHWs. The scoring system was used to quantify the answers; bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to compare FETP-trained with non-FETP–trained PHWs. Results Overall, 1337 PHWs participated, with 835 (62.4%) <40 years of age and 851 (63.6%) male participants. Of them, 423 (31.6%) were FETP trained, including 189 (44.7%) at an advanced level, 155 (36.6%) at an intermediate level, and 79 (18.7%) had basic level training. Compared to non-FETP–trained participants, FETP-trained participants were older and had higher KAP scores. FETP participation was low in infection control and public health laboratories. KAP mean scores for intermediate-level attendees were comparable to the advanced level. Conclusions FETP-trained participants had better KAP than non-FETP–trained PHWs. Expanding the intermediate level, maintaining the rapid response training, and introducing the laboratory component are recommended to maximize the benefit from the FETP. Infection control, antimicrobial resistance, and coordination are areas where training should be included.

Response Operation Framework". One of the conference's key objectives was to provide a space for FETP residents, graduates, and public health professionals to showcase achievements. A total of 421 abstracts were submitted and after professionalreview, 147 (34.9%) were accepted (111 for oral presentations and 36 for poster presentations) and published by Iproceeding. The conference met the primary objectives of showcasing the public health accomplishments and contributions of EMR, encouraging the exchange of ideas and coordination among stakeholders, and engaging cross sectoral workforce in producing recommendations for approaching regional and global health concerns. Moreover, the conference presented a unique opportunity for FETPs and other public health professionals from the Mediterranean region to present their significant scientific work and also facilitated networking among professionals. EMPHNET strives to continue to present similar exchange opportunities for public health professionals in the region.

BACKGROUND Older persons and people of any age with certain underlying comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, lung disease, kidney disease, liver disease, and cancer are at a higher risk of severe disease course and death if they become infected with COVID-19. Identifying at-risk groups and risk factors for COVID-19 severity and mortality is important for guiding the efficient and appropriate prevention and management of patients with COVID-19. OBJECTIVE This study aimed at describing the demographics and epidemiologic characteristics of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Egypt and determining the impact of different comorbidities on patients’ outcomes. METHODS The data of all confirmed COVID-19 patients admitted to 408 governmental hospitals all over Egypt from February to May 2020 were collected retrospectively from the National Egyptian Disease Surveillance System. The cases were confirmed using RT-PCR. RESULTS Overall, 28,415 patients (55% male and 45% female) were identified. Their median age was 44 years. Of those, 743 (2.6%) were admitted to ICU, 408 (1.4%) required ventilator, and 1045 (3.7%) died. Of the 21,617 (76.1%) patients with completed data, 4687 (21.7%) had comorbidities. Overall, 11.8% had diabetes, 5.3% cardiovascular disease, and 4.3% chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Those who had 1 comorbidity were more likely to die (odds ratio 2.83), were admitted to ICU (odds ratio 6.36), and needed a ventilator (odds ratio 5.95) compared to patients with no comorbidities. Having multiple comorbidities increased the risk of mortality (odds ratio 3.53), ICU admission (odds ratio 8.62), and requiring a ventilator (odds ratio 9.06). CONCLUSIONS COVID-19 patients with comorbidities had a higher risk of disease severity and mortality. Multiple comorbidities further increase the risk to a higher extent. All necessary precautions should be taken for patients with comorbidities to avoid COVID-19 infection in order to prevent the worst prognosis.