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. 2022 Sep:122:10-14.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2022.05.033. Epub 2022 May 17.

Investigation of possible preventable causes of COVID-19 deaths in the Kampala Metropolitan Area, Uganda, 2020-2021

Patricia Eyu  1 , Peter Elyanu  2 , Alex R Ario  3 , Vivian Ntono  4 , Doreen Birungi  4 , Gerald Rukundo  4 , Carol Nanziri  4 , Ignatius Wadunde  3 , Richard Migisha  3 , Elizabeth Katana  3 , Peter Oumo  3 , Job Morukileng  3 , Julie R Harris  5
Affiliations

Investigation of possible preventable causes of COVID-19 deaths in the Kampala Metropolitan Area, Uganda, 2020-2021

Patricia Eyu et al. Int J Infect Dis. 2022 Sep.

Abstract

Background: Identifying preventable causes of COVID-19 deaths is key to reducing mortality. We investigated possible preventable causes of COVID-19 deaths over a six-month period in Uganda.

Methods: A case-patient was a person testing reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction-positive for SARS-CoV-2 who died in Kampala Metropolitan Area hospitals from August 2020 to February 2021. We reviewed records and interviewed health workers and case-patient caretakers.

Results: We investigated 126 (65%) of 195 reported COVID-19 deaths during the investigation period; 89 (71%) were male, and the median age was 61 years. A total of 98 (78%) had underlying medical conditions. Most (118, 94%) had advanced disease at admission to the hospital where they died. A total of 44 (35%) did not receive a COVID-19 test at their first presentation to a health facility despite having consistent symptoms. A total of 95 (75%) needed intensive care unit admission, of whom 45 (47%) received it; 74 (59%) needed mechanical ventilation, of whom 47 (64%) received it.

Conclusion: Among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 who died in this investigation, early opportunities for diagnosis were frequently missed, and there was inadequate intensive care unit capacity. Emphasis is needed on COVID-19 as a differential diagnosis, early testing, and care-seeking at specialized facilities before the illness reaches a critical stage. Increased capacity for intensive care is needed.

Keywords: COVID-19; Coronavirus disease; Death; Pandemic; Uganda.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest The authors have no competing interests to declare.

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