Nyasulu Peter S, Tamuzi Jacques L, Erasmus Rajiv T
Division of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Department of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
Division of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Parktown, Johannesburg, South Africa.
IJID Reg. 2023 Aug 9;8:137-144. doi: 10.1016/j.ijregi.2023.08.004. eCollection 2023 Sep.
To determine the prevalence of long COVID, its most common symptoms, comorbidities, and pathophysiological mechanisms in African populations.
A systematic review of long COVID in African populations was conducted. The random effects model was used to calculate the pooled prevalence rates (95% CI). A narrative synthesis was also performed.
We included 14 studies from seven African countries, totaling 6030 previously SARS-CoV-2 infected participants and 2954 long COVID patients. Long COVID had a pooled prevalence of 41% (26-56%). Fatigue, dyspnea, and confusion or lack of concentration were the most common symptoms, with prevalence rates (95% CI) of 41% (26-56%), 25% (12-38%), and 40% (12-68%), respectively. Long COVID was mainly associated with advanced age, being female, more than three long COVID symptoms in the acute phase, initial fatigue and dyspnea, COVID-19 severity, pre-existing obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and the presence of any chronic illness ( ≤0.05). High microclot and platelet-poor plasma viscosity explained the pathophysiology of long COVID.
Long COVID prevalence in Africa was comparable to the global prevalence. The most common symptoms were higher in Africa. Comorbidities associated with long COVID may lead to additional complications in African populations due to hypercoagulation and thrombosis.Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42023430024.
确定非洲人群中新冠后综合征的患病率、最常见症状、合并症及病理生理机制。
对非洲人群中的新冠后综合征进行系统评价。采用随机效应模型计算合并患病率（95%可信区间）。还进行了叙述性综合分析。
我们纳入了来自7个非洲国家的14项研究，共有6030名既往感染过严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2（SARS-CoV-2）的参与者和2954名新冠后综合征患者。新冠后综合征的合并患病率为41%（26%-56%）。疲劳、呼吸困难以及意识模糊或注意力不集中是最常见的症状，患病率（95%可信区间）分别为41%（26%-56%）、25%（12%-38%）和40%（12%-68%）。新冠后综合征主要与高龄、女性、急性期出现三种以上新冠后综合征症状、初始疲劳和呼吸困难、新冠病毒病严重程度、既往肥胖、高血压、糖尿病以及存在任何慢性疾病相关（P≤0.05）。高微凝块和低血小板血浆粘度解释了新冠后综合征的病理生理学。
非洲新冠后综合征的患病率与全球患病率相当。非洲最常见症状的患病率更高。与新冠后综合征相关的合并症可能因高凝和血栓形成而在非洲人群中导致更多并发症。系统评价注册：国际前瞻性系统评价注册库CRD42023430024。
