Socioeconomic, demographic, and clinical profile of COVID patients in north coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

Background: The unprecedented outbreak of a contagious respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus has led to a pandemic since December 2019, claiming millions of lives. Aims and Objectives: The present study was undertaken to estimate the various risk factors associated with COVID, to study the common presenting symptoms and prognosis, and to estimate the degree of association between computed tomography (CT) value in reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with mode of disease transmission in north coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study comprising of 1462 COVID-positive individuals. It is based on structured questionnaire on demographic, socioeconomic and symptoms, and correlation of clinical pattern with CT value in RT-PCR and further prognosis. Results: Diabetes (6.7%), hypertension (7.5%), and bronchial asthma (8.6%) are the main comorbid conditions. Middle (44.6%) and low socioeconomic status (47.3%) are more susceptible. Male gender (63.5%) is more affected, especially 16–30 years age group (32.4%). Vaccination offers considerable protection from infection. Contact (59.4%) with known case and travel (31%) are main factors that determine disease transmission. Blood group may not play a role in COVID susceptibility. Health careworkers (22.9%) and students (16.2%) are mostly affected. Conclusion: Bronchial asthma, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus are the predominant risk factors associated with COVID. Transmission of the disease is more by virtue of contact with the infected person than by travel.

The Clinical and Social Economic Profile of Patients Diagnosed with COVID-19 at Likuni Mission Hospital, Malawi.

“…This is also the group that has high level of social mobility and interactions, leading to higher rate of positive contacts and increased rate of spread of the disease While clinical comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemias and chronic lung conditions have clearly been documented to affect the outcomes of patients, diagnosed with COVID-19, in this present study, it did not appear as a major factor. Contrary to the findings in studies done across Europe and Asia, where the prevalence of comorbidity amongst patients diagnosed with COVID-19 was as high as 50% 15 , our present study demonstrated very low percentage of patients who had comorbidities. Only 2% (n=4) had known diagnosed hypertension and asthma.…”

“…Our findings also agree with studies done across the country, where densely populated areas had high transmission rates and most people barely lived below the poverty level. Also, studies done in other countries, demonstrated that people from low social economic status, were more likely to be affected from the disease 15 . Adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures requires access to safe and clean water, and other preventive equipment such as mask.…”

“…The finding from this study, are also reflected in other studies done across the world. 15 The similarity in clinical presentation has a huge significance to public health information, prevention and control of the disease. Whilst the clinical presentation was similar to studies done in other settings, there were huge differences in demographic characteristics such as age.…”

“…The COVID 19 pandemic has exposed the longstanding structural drivers of health inequities such as growing economic disparities and poor governance. These important determinants of health have been interlinked with social class, ethnicity, gender, education level, and other factors thereby exacerbating the existing social vulnerabilities in society [15] . A proper understanding of the patient's clinical and socio-economic profile is very crucial to the management of the patient with COVID infection and targeting interventions such as timely vaccinations to individuals with highest risk of primary disease, recurrence, incapacitation or death.…”