Prevalence of Coinfection Malaria-Covid-19 at the International Hospital Center of Kinshasa during the 3<sup>rd</sup> Wave of the Pandemic

Abstract

Background: Since 2019, Covid-19 pandemic has afflicted the world and countries of Africa. Despite the limited resources, these countries already disturbed by multiple diseases that have not yet been controlled such as malaria, must face this pandemic whose success in the management depends on the early detection of the disease. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Malaria-Covid-19 coinfection in our environment. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of patients' data with Covid-19 infection from May to July 2021 at the International Hospital center of Kinshasa "CHIK". We collected data and analysis was performed on the sociodemographic parameters, the notion of anticovid-19 vaccination as well as the duration of the symptomatology before the consultation, the clinical manifestations and the laboratory data available while including the data of the thick drop. Results: A total of 84 patients were registered with an average age of 35.23 ± 12.74 years. The male sex was predominant (82.1%). The Indian community was the most affected (44.2%). The average of days elapsed before the consultation of 3.63 days. The anti-Covid-19 vaccination rate was 20.3%. The prevalence of Malaria-Covid-19 coinfection was 29.76%. In coinfected patients, fever and cough were more reported (64%). Regarding biological and inflammatory parameters, 31.8% of coinfected patients had a platelet count less than 150,000 elements/mm 3 compared to 11.6% in non-Co-infected (p = 0.046). Conclusion: The Malaria-Covid-19 comorbidity prevalence is high in Malaria endemic country like Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It is necessary to make better distinction, to detect early the comorbidity in order to better guide care and not be limited to treating malaria, letting the Covid-19 evolve.