Clinical manifestations and socio-demographic status of COVID-19 patients during the second-wave of pandemic: A Bangladeshi experience

Abstract

Background Bangladesh is a densely populated country with a substandard healthcare system and a mediocre economic framework. Due to the enormous number of people who have been unaware until now, the development of COVID-19’s second-wave infection has become a severe threat. The present investigation aimed to characterize the clinical and socio-demographic characteristics of COVID-19 in Bangladesh. Methods A cross-sectional analysis was carried out from all the other COVID-19 patients and confirmed by RT-PCR undergoing a specialized COVID-19 hospital. From March 1 to April 15, 2021, a total of 1326 samples were collected. Samples were only obtained from non-critical COVID-19 patients as critically ill patients required emergency intensive care medications. Then, from April 17 to May 03, 2021, SARS-CoV-2 infection and clinical assessment was performed based on interim guidelines from the WHO. The diagnosis was conducted through RT-PCR. Later, identifying the symptomatic and asymptomatic patient based on checking the Clinical Observation Form (COF). The patients filled the COF form. Finally, statistical analyses were done using the SPSS 20 statistical program. Results In this investigation, a total of 326 patients were diagnosed as COVID-19 positive. Among them, approximately 19.02% (n = 62) were asymptomatic, and 80.98% (n = 264) were symptomatic. Here, the finding shows that the occurrence of this infection was varied depending on age, sex, residence, occupation, smoking habit, comorbidities, etc. However, Males (60.12%) were more affected than females (39.88%), and, surprisingly, this pandemic infected both urban and rural residents almost equally (urban = 50.92%; rural = 49.08%). Approximately 19% of the asymptomatic and 62% of symptomatic cases had at least one comorbid disorder. Interestingly, an unexpected result was exhibited in the case of smokers, where non-smokers were more affected than smokers. The study indicates community transmission of COVID 19, where people were highly infected at their occupations (35.58%), at houses (23.93%) and by traveling (12.88%). Noteworthy, according to this report, a large number (19.33%) of individuals did not know exactly how they were contaminated with SARS-CoV-2. Patients were most commonly treated by an antibiotic 95.09%, followed in second by corticosteroid 46.01%. Anti-viral drugs, remdesivir, and oxygenation are also needed for other patients. Among those, who were being treated, approximately 69.33% were isolated at home, 27.91% were being treated at dedicated COVID-19 hospitals. Finally, 96.63% were discharged without complications, and 0.03% has died. Conclusion This investigation concludes that males became more infected than females. Interestingly, both urban and rural people became nearly equally infected. It noticed community transmission of SARS-CoV-2, where people were highly infected at their workplaces. A higher rate of silent transmissio...

Clinical profile and short-term outcomes of RT-PCR- positive patients with COVID-19: a cross-sectional study in a tertiary care hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh

“…Fever and respiratory symptoms were most common among the patients, reported in other studies in Bangladesh and beyond. 18 24 28 While several studies from Bangladesh, 24 29 China 28 30 and Brazil 31 reported weakness or fatigue as a common symptom, only 8% (n=31 out of 377) of the patients reported that they experienced weakness during initial triage at the hospital.…”

“… 22 38 Other studies from Bangladesh also reported that antibiotics are the most commonly used medication during the treatment of COVID-19. 24 39 …”

“…Similar studies conducted in the tertiary care centres in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan also reported higher levels of pre-existing comorbidity among patients with COVID-19. [22][23][24] Saha et al 25 has found that comorbidity such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension and diabetes are significant risk factors for the poor prognosis of COVID-19 in Bangladesh. 25 Several meta-analyses also indicated a higher disease burden of COVID-19 among male smokers and patients with comorbid conditions such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension and diabetes.…”

Prevalence of comorbid tuberculosis amongst COVID‐19 patients: A rapid review and meta‐analysis

“…A total of 114 eligible studies 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 ,…”

Estimation and Prediction of Case Fatality Rates, Recovery-to-Death Ratio of COVID-19 Disease during the Second Wave in Bangladesh

“…The delta variant in Bangladesh is a concern for the country because medical facilities, such as hospital beds, intensive care units (ICU), oxygen supply for critical patients, ventilators, are far fewer than the required amount in both government and private hospital 23,28 . Health experts think that the infection and death pattern of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic would be more severe than the first wave 29 and World Health Organization has warned about the third wave of COVID-19 30 . The case fatality rate (CFR), which is an important parameter to measure the severity of infections of a disease like COVID-19, was relatively higher among the old age population, medical professionals, and law enforcement staff during the first wave of COVID-19 in Bangladesh.…”