Clinical characteristics, complications, and predictors of outcome of hospitalized adult Sudanese patients with COVID‐19 and malaria coinfection in Sudan: A multicenter retrospective cross‐sectional study

Abstract

Malaria and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) share several characteristics that could lead to cross‐infection, particularly in malaria‐endemic areas. Early COVID‐19 symptoms might be misdiagnosed for malaria in clinical settings. Also, both diseases can cause fatal complications. So, laboratory testing for both diseases was recommended by the World Health Organization. To study the clinical characteristics and outcomes of Adult Sudanese patients with COVID‐19 and malaria coinfection. This retrospective cross‐sectional study was conducted from January 2021 to October 2021 in Wad Medani. Total coverage of all Sudanese patients above 18 years old with a confirmed diagnosis of coinfection with COVID‐19 and malaria was included, and data were collected using a data collection sheet. Data were analyzed using R software version 4.0.2. Data were described and presented as mean, standard deviation, and number (percentage). To find associated factors with in‐hospital outcome, χ 2 test, fisher exact test, and independent t test or Wilcoxon rank‐sum test were used. In this study, 156 participants were diagnosed with COVID‐19 and malaria coinfection. Most of them were between 60 and 70 years (30.8%), the majority were males (59%). Shortness of breath (76.3%) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (35.3%) were the most common symptom and complications among coinfected patients, respectively. Ground glass opacity ( n = 47/49, 95.9%) is the most common result for computed tomography scan. Atrial fibrillation was the most common abnormal electrocardiogram finding ( n = 6/62, 9.7%). Overall mortality among all participants was (63/156, 40.4%). High mortality rate was found among the coinfected patients. More attention is needed towards fighting COVID‐19 and malaria coinfection. There may be a link between malaria and COVID‐19.

Prevalence of Malaria and COVID-19 Coinfection: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Thirteen cross-sectional studies were included on the coinfection between Malaria and COVID-19, published between 2020 and 2022 (Table 3) (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27). The total reported population was 7818 patients, of which our sample consisted of 2523 patients diagnosed with COVID-19, distributed across nine countries: Nigeria (n = 475) (15,17,18), Democratic Republic of Congo (n = 160) (16), India (n = 494) (19,20), Uganda (n = 597) (21), Sudan (n = 747) (22,23), China (n = 4) (24), Gabon (n = 10) (25), Burkina Faso (n = 32) (26), and Angola (n = 4) (27). The sample size varied from 3 patients in India to 597 in Uganda.…”

“…Additionally, coinfection between Malaria and COVID-19 was reported in 879 patients. The diagnostic methods used for Malaria and COVID-19 were microscopy and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), respectively (Table 3) (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27). The pooled prevalence of coinfection between Malaria and COVID-19 was 45% (95% CI: 16, 76) (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27).…”

“…The diagnostic methods used for Malaria and COVID-19 were microscopy and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), respectively (Table 3) (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27). The pooled prevalence of coinfection between Malaria and COVID-19 was 45% (95% CI: 16, 76) (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27). The study with the lowest proportion was conducted in the Democratic Republic of Congo with a prevalence of 1% (95% CI: 0, 2) (16), while the highest was conducted in Nigeria with a prevalence of 100% (95% CI: 100, 100) (18).…”

“…The results indicated that the pooled prevalence among COVID-19 patients was 53% (95% CI: 15%-88%, 478/1011 cases) for Plasmodium spp. (16,17,(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27). Meanwhile, infections by P.…”

Assessing Insecticide Susceptibility Status of Anopheles Mosquitoes in Gondar Zuria District, Northwest Ethiopia

“…Nonetheless, Plasmodium falciparum remains the most serious threat to public health on a global scale, accounting for more than 90% of all malaria deaths in 2018. Children under the age of ve are the most vulnerable group, accounting for 67%(272 000) of all malaria deaths worldwide (1,12). For this reason WHO has established challenging global technical strategy targets for 2030, including the elimination of malaria in many countries and a reduction in incidence and mortality rates of at least 90% (13,14).…”