TY - JOUR
T1 - Factors associated with laboratory-confirmed SARS-Cov-2 infection among patients with severe respiratory illness (SRI)
T2 - Findings from the COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness evaluation in Kenya and Mali, 2022-2023
AU - Anyango, Raphael O.
AU - Nyawanda, Bryan O.
AU - Onyando, Brian O.
AU - Haidara, Fadima C.
AU - Okello, Collins
AU - Orege, Ian K.
AU - Ogolla, Sidney
AU - Ogwel, Billy
AU - Awuor, Alex O.
AU - Kadivane, Samuel
AU - Ngere, Philip
AU - Nasimiyu, Carolyne
AU - Osoro, Eric
AU - Njenga, M. Kariuki
AU - Akelo, Victor
AU - Otedo, Amos
AU - Lidechi, Shirley
AU - Ochieng, John B.
AU - Otieno, Nancy A.
AU - Muok, Erick M.O.
AU - Sergon, Kibet
AU - Worwui, Archibald Kwame
AU - Weldegebriel, Goitom G.
AU - Bergeri, Isabel
AU - Sandra, Cohuet
AU - Gurry, Celine
AU - Nuorti, J. Pekka
AU - Amoth, Patrick
AU - Jalang'o, Rose
AU - Mwenda, Jason M.
AU - Sow, Samba O.
AU - Omore, Richard
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 The Authors
PY - 2025/5/13
Y1 - 2025/5/13
N2 - Background: Understanding the epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 infection in settings with limited data, especially given the dynamic nature of the virus and the reported epidemiological heterogeneity across countries, is important. We used data from the COVID-19 Vaccine effectiveness evaluation to determine factors associated with SARS-COV-2 infection among patients (≥ 12 years) with severe respiratory illness (SRI) in Kenya and Mali. Methods: SRI was defined as acute onset (≤ 14 days) of at least two of the following: cough, fever, chills, rigors, myalgia, headache, sore throat, fatigue, congestion or runny nose, loss of taste or smell, or pneumonia diagnosis. We collected demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients, and nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal specimens for SARS-CoV-2 testing using RT-PCR. We used a mixed effect logistic regression to determine factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection adjusting for age and sex while controlling for clustering by site and month of illness onset. Results: Between July 2022 and October 2023, a total of 9941 patients with SRI were enrolled, of whom, 588 (5.9 %) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Compared to patients aged 12-24 years, those who were aged >64 years were more likely to have SARS-CoV-2 infection (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] = 1.60; 95 % Confidence Interval [95 % CI] 1.07-2.40). Additionally, SRI patients presenting with cough (aOR = 1.37; 95 % Confidence Interval [95 % CI] 1.05-1.80), sore throat (aOR = 1.56; 95 % CI 1.23-1.99), runny nose (aOR = 1.51; 95 % CI 1.18-1.94), and ear pain discharge (aOR = 2.58; 95 % CI 1.43-4.66) were more likely to have SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to those who did not. SRI patients who had HIV were also more likely to have SAR-CoV-2 infection compared to those who did not (aOR =1.32; 95 % CI 1.04-1.67). Conclusion: Older adults and HIV patients were at increased-risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection consistent with WHO guidelines highlighting the need for targeted prevention and management strategies focused on them.
AB - Background: Understanding the epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 infection in settings with limited data, especially given the dynamic nature of the virus and the reported epidemiological heterogeneity across countries, is important. We used data from the COVID-19 Vaccine effectiveness evaluation to determine factors associated with SARS-COV-2 infection among patients (≥ 12 years) with severe respiratory illness (SRI) in Kenya and Mali. Methods: SRI was defined as acute onset (≤ 14 days) of at least two of the following: cough, fever, chills, rigors, myalgia, headache, sore throat, fatigue, congestion or runny nose, loss of taste or smell, or pneumonia diagnosis. We collected demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients, and nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal specimens for SARS-CoV-2 testing using RT-PCR. We used a mixed effect logistic regression to determine factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection adjusting for age and sex while controlling for clustering by site and month of illness onset. Results: Between July 2022 and October 2023, a total of 9941 patients with SRI were enrolled, of whom, 588 (5.9 %) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Compared to patients aged 12-24 years, those who were aged >64 years were more likely to have SARS-CoV-2 infection (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] = 1.60; 95 % Confidence Interval [95 % CI] 1.07-2.40). Additionally, SRI patients presenting with cough (aOR = 1.37; 95 % Confidence Interval [95 % CI] 1.05-1.80), sore throat (aOR = 1.56; 95 % CI 1.23-1.99), runny nose (aOR = 1.51; 95 % CI 1.18-1.94), and ear pain discharge (aOR = 2.58; 95 % CI 1.43-4.66) were more likely to have SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to those who did not. SRI patients who had HIV were also more likely to have SAR-CoV-2 infection compared to those who did not (aOR =1.32; 95 % CI 1.04-1.67). Conclusion: Older adults and HIV patients were at increased-risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection consistent with WHO guidelines highlighting the need for targeted prevention and management strategies focused on them.
KW - Risk factors
KW - SARS-CoV-2 infection
KW - Severe respiratory illness
U2 - 10.1016/j.vaccine.2025.127234
DO - 10.1016/j.vaccine.2025.127234
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:105004930020
SN - 0264-410X
JO - Vaccine
JF - Vaccine
M1 - 127234
ER -
