Lessons learnt from the first wave of COVID-19 in Damascus, Syria: a multicentre retrospective cohort study

Abstract

ObjectivesThe decade-long Syrian war led to fragile health infrastructures lacking in personal and physical resources. The public health of the Syrian population was, therefore, vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic, which devastated even well-resourced healthcare systems. Nevertheless, the officially reported incidence and fatality rates were significantly lower than the forecasted numbers.DesignA retrospective cohort study.SettingThe four main responding hospitals in Damascus, which received most of the cases during the first pandemic wave in Syria (i.e., June–August 2020).ParticipantsOne thousand one hundred eighty-four patients who were managed as inpatient COVID-19 cases.Primary and secondary outcome measuresThe records of hospitalised patients were screened for clinical history, vital signs, diagnosis modality, major interventions and status at discharge.ResultsThe diagnostic and therapeutic preparedness for COVID-19 was significantly heterogeneous among the different centres and depleted rapidly after the arrival of the first wave. Only 32% of the patients were diagnosed based on positive reverse transcription-PCR tests. Five hundred twenty-six patients had an indication for intensive care unit admission, but only 82% of them received it. Two hundred fifty-seven patients needed mechanical ventilation, but ventilators were not available to 14% of them, all of whom died. Overall mortality during hospitalisation reached 46% and no significant difference was found in fatality between those who received and did not receive these care options.ConclusionsThe Syrian healthcare system expressed minor resilience in facing the COVID-19 pandemic, as its assets vanished swiftly with a limited number of cases. This forced physicians to reserve resources (e.g., ventilators) for the most severe cases, which led to poor outcomes of in-hospital management and limited the admission capacity for milder cases. The overwhelmed system additionally suffered from constrained coordination, suboptimal allocation of the accessible resources and a severe inability to informatively report on the catastrophic pandemic course in Syria.

Lung Cancer Diagnoses and Outcomes During the Syrian War, 2011-2018

“…10 More than 12 million are in dire need of health care, as the war also forced about 70% of health workers to flee Syria and excluded half of the primary health facilities from service, 11 affecting the management of both communicable and uncommunicable diseases. [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] Furthermore, diagnostic and therapeutic approaches became progressively restricted, often proving prohibitively expensive for patients to access. 8,17 In the realm of cancer care, approximately 18 000 new cases were diagnosed in 2008, including 1818 cases of lung cancer.…”

“…In the case of the Syrian conflict, the 12-year war has evolved into one of the most severe global humanitarian crises, displacing large masses of people and leading the Syrian population, initially around 23 million in 2011 (reported pre-war), to fall below 19 million by 2016 . More than 12 million are in dire need of health care, as the war also forced about 70% of health workers to flee Syria and excluded half of the primary health facilities from service, affecting the management of both communicable and uncommunicable diseases . Furthermore, diagnostic and therapeutic approaches became progressively restricted, often proving prohibitively expensive for patients to access …”

Patterns of War-Related Traumatic Brain Injuries and Predictors of Mortality Among Civilians During the Syrian Armed Conflict

“…Managing war-related brain injuries is challenging because of multiple factors including the variety in velocities and caliber of the projectiles and the lack of medical equipment, intensive care units, and experienced neurosurgeons in conflict zones. 8,9 A good understanding of the biophysics and pathophysiology of shrapnel and gunshot injuries is crucial for minimizing the mortality and morbidity that can accompany them. 2 Brain blast injuries include brain contusion with external head injury and blunt or penetrating brain injuries.…”