Spatial-temporal trends of COVID-19 infection and mortality in Sudan.

Since its emergence, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is constantly affecting many parts of the globe and threatening millions of lives worldwide. Charting and aligning disease incidence to identify spatial clustering and patterns continue to be a substantial pathway to understanding disease epidemiology and is essential for implementing effective planning and prevention strategies. A national descriptive study was implemented to present the infection and mortality rates of the COVID-19 pandemic in all states of Sudan. Data were collected and summarized in monthly statistical reports of COVID-19 infection and mortality rates. The reports used were from May 2020 to March 2021. The highest COVID-19 incidence rate occurred in December 2020 with a total incidence of 4863 cases ranging from 0 cases in some of the states to 4164 cases in other states (mean = 270 ± 946, median = 21 cases). Followed by the incidence in May 2020 with a total of 4524 cases ranging from 4 to 3509 cases (mean = 251 ± 794, median = 31 cases). The western and southern states of the country had the lowest mortality rates. While, the middle states (Khartoum and El Gezira) had the highest mortalities. Northern and eastern states had lower mortalities than the middle states, yet, higher than the western states. A strong positive correlation between infection and mortality was found.

Characteristics and severity of COVID-19 among Sudanese patients during the waves of the pandemic.

COVID-19 is associated with marked morbidity and mortality. COVID-19 symptoms ranged from mild symptoms to severe pneumonia requiring admission to intensive care unit. Imperial College reported that, this second wave in Khartoum is expected to be similar to the first wave. The aim of our study was to study the characteristics and severity of COVID-19 among Sudanese patients during the waves of the pandemic. A hospital-based analytical Cross-Sectional study assessed the characteristics of COVID-19 patients who attended Imperial Hospital since November 2020, Khartoum, Sudan. Data were collected, retrospectively, from the medical records of COVID-19 patients. The characteristics of the patients were recorded. The statistical package for social sciences (SPSS-23) was used to describe and analyze the data. Descriptive statistics and chi-square test were used; tests were considered statistically significant when p < 0.05. Of the 138 participants, 75.4% were aged above 60 years. Males were 61.6%. Severe cases were 37.7%, with higher rate in the third wave (p = 0.000). Duration of hospitalization was ≤ 5 days in 60.9% of the cases, majority were from the 2nd wave (p = 0.001). Comorbidities of COVID-19 patients were more among non-severe cases (p = 0.001). COVID-19 symptoms were more prevalent in non-severe cases. Complications were more in severe cases (p = 0.000). Odds ratio of having ischemic stroke was 6.833 [95%CI: 2.092-22.321] based on COVID-19 severity. The elderly population were the majority. More males were getting admitted. Atypical symptoms were reported beside the common symptoms. Wider multi-center studies are recommended in order to complete the big picture of COVID-19 in Sudan.