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. 2020 May;13(5):692-696.
doi: 10.1016/j.jiph.2019.11.016. Epub 2019 Dec 13.

Burden of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection in Saudi Arabia

Rajaa M Al-Raddadi  1 , Omaima I Shabouni  2 , Zeyad M Alraddadi  3 , Abdulmohsen H Alzalabani  4 , Ahmad M Al-Asmari  5 , Adel Ibrahim  2 , Abdullatif Almarashi  2 , Tariq A Madani  6
Affiliations

Burden of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection in Saudi Arabia

Rajaa M Al-Raddadi et al. J Infect Public Health. 2020 May.

Abstract

MERS-coronavirus infection is currently responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality in Saudi Arabia. Understanding its burden, as an emerging infectious disease, is vital for devising appropriate control strategies. In this study, the burden of MERS-CoV was estimated over 31months period from June 6, 2012 to January 5, 2015. The total number of patients was 835; 528 (63.2%) patients were male, 771 (92.3%) patients were ≥25 years of age, and 210 (25.1%) patients were healthcare workers. A total of 751 (89.9%) patients required hospitalization. The median duration between onset of illness and hospitalization was 2 days (interquartile range, 0-5). The median length of hospital stay was 14 days (IQR, 6-27). The overall case fatality rate was 43.1%. Basic reproductive number was 0.9. Being Saudi, non-healthcare workers, and age ≥65 years were significantly associated with higher mortality. In conclusion, MERS-CoV infection caused a substantial health burden in Saudi Arabia.

Keywords: Burden; Case fatality rate; Health care workers; MERS-Coronavirus; Saudi Arabia.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Epidemic curve of MERS-CoV cases by month and outcome based on date of onset for symptomatic and date of diagnosis for asymptomatic patients in Saudi Arabia from June 1st, 2012–January 5th, 2015 (total: 835 cases).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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