Epidemiological profiles and outcomes of healthcare workers hospitalized for COVID-19 in five Sub-Saharan African countries: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic placed immense strain on global health systems and healthcare workers (HCWs). This study aimed to analyze the epidemiological profiles and outcomes of HCWs hospitalized for COVID-19 across five sub-Saharan African countries. METHODS: This was a cohort study using secondary data collected between January 30, 2020, and December 31, 2022, as part of the International Severe Acute Respiratory and emerging Infection Consortium study. The study population consisted of HCWs who were hospitalized due to clinically suspected or laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Demographic and clinical characteristics and case management were summarized using proportions or medians and interquartile ranges. Factors associated with risk of mortality among HCWs were assessed using a Cox proportional hazards model, adjusted for age and sex. RESULTS: Findings showed that South Africa recorded a lower percentage (2.4%) of patients who were HCWs compared to Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, and Malawi. Overall, many HCWs were aged ≥50 years and the majority were females (66.8%). In three of the five countries, however, the majority of the HCWs were <39 years old and were males. Antibiotics were the most commonly used medical treatments across three countries (Ghana, 67.8%; Guinea, 97.3%; Malawi, 80%), while antimalarials were commonly used in Guinea (87.8%) and Ghana (30.4%). Guinea and South Africa reported deaths with case-fatality rates varying from 22% in March 2020 to 1.4% in February 2022. Risk factors for mortality included age over 50 years, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease. CONCLUSIONS: Our study underscores the critical need for continuous protection and enhanced readiness for HCWs, particularly during epidemics and pandemics. Strengthening infection prevention and control measures and focusing on vulnerable groups such as older and female HCWs are essential for mitigating the impact of future health crises. Further research is required to fully comprehend the implications of these findings.