Abstract 15836: Time Trends in Infectious and Chronic Disease Consultations in Dakar, Senegal: Impact of Covid-19 Preventative Measures

Abstract

Background: The impact of COVID-19 preventative measures (use of face masks, social distancing, quarantines, and sanitation and hygiene practices) on the time trends in infectious and chronic disease consultations in Sub-Saharan Africa remains unknown. Methods: We conducted a cohort study on all emergency medical consultations over a five-year period, January 2016 to July 2020, from SOS Medecins in Dakar, Senegal. The consultation records provided basic demographic information such as age, ethnicity (Senegalese v. Caucasian), and sex as well as the principal diagnosis using an ICD-10 classification (‘infectious, ‘chronic’, and ‘other’). Firstly, we investigated how the pattern in emergency consultation differed from March to July 2020 compared to previous years. Secondly, we examined any potential racial/ethnic disparities in COVID-19 consultation. Findings: Data on emergency medical consultations were obtained from 53,583 patients of all ethnic origins. The mean age of patients was 37·0 ± 25·2 and 30·3 ± 21·7 in 2016-2019 and 45·5 ± 24·7 and 39·5 ± 23·3 in 2020 for Senegalese and Caucasians. The type of consultations between the months of January and July were similar from 2016 and 2019; however, in 2020, there was a drop among the numbers of infectious disease consultations, particularly from April to May 2020 when sanitary measures for COVID-19 were applied (average of 366·5 and 358·25 in 2016-1019 and 133 and 125 in 2020). The prevalence of chronic conditions remained steady during the same period (average of 381 and 394·75 in 2016-2019 and 373 and 367 in 2020). In a multivariate analysis after adjusting to age and sex, infectious disease consultations were significantly more likely to occur in 2016-2019 compared to 2020 (OR for 2016= 2·39, 2017= 2·74, 2018= 2·39, 2019= 2·01). Furthermore, the trend in the number of infectious and chronic consultations were similar among Senegalese and Caucasian groups, indicating no disparities among those seeking treatment. Conclusion: During the implementation of COVID-19 preventative measures, infectious disease rates dropped as chronic disease rates stayed stagnant in Dakar. Furthermore, no racial/ethnic disparities were observed among the infectious and chronic consultations.