Objectives: To report characteristics and outcome of COVID-19 patients who required hospital admission in sub-Saharan Africa clinics with no access to invasive mechanical ventilation.
Methods: Between April and June 2021, documented COVID-19 patients with SaO2 < 95% who were admitted in two clinics in Douala (Cameroon) were invited to participate. Data were prospectively collected using a standardized questionnaire.
Results: We included 67 patients: 39 males (58%), median age 62 years [50-70]. Comorbidities included hypertension (n = 38, 57%), obesity (n = 26, 38%), and diabetes (n = 16, 24%). No patient reported COVID-19 vaccination. On admission, 35 patients (52%) required O2 > 6 L/min. CT scan demonstrated extended lesions (>50%) in 50/61 cases (82%). Most patients received dexamethasone (n = 64, 96%), heparin (n = 64, 96%), chloroquine/azithromycin (n = 59, 88%), and broad-spectrum antibiotics (n = 59, 88%). Sixteen patients died (24%), after a median of 11.5 days [7.5-15.5] post-admission.
Conclusions: Despite the lack of invasive mechanical ventilation, 76% of COVID-19 patients survived.
Keywords: COVID-19; Cameroon; Intensive care unit; Mechanical ventilation; Prognosis.
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