Comparative analysis of clinical characteristics of COVID-19 among vaccinated and unvaccinated patients in a major treatment facility in Ghana

Abstract

Objectives: To compare clinical characteristics of COVID-19 among vaccinated and unvaccinated patients in a major treatment facility in Ghana.Design: A retrospective study drawing on data from COVID-19 patients’ records visiting the facility from March 2021 to December 2021.Setting: Ghana Infectious Disease Centre, Ga East Municipality, Greater Accra Region, Ghana.Participants: In-patients and outpatients who reported to the facility from 1st March 2021 to December 2021 were included in the study, and patients with missing data on vaccination were excluded.Outcome measures: underlying conditions, symptoms, case management information, hospital service rendered (OPD, HDU or ICU), length of hospital stay, treatment outcomeResults: The study included 775 patient records comprising 615 OPD and 160 hospitalised cases. Less than one-third (26.25%; 42) of the patients hospitalised were vaccinated compared to almost 40.0% (39.02%; 240) of the patients seen at the OPD. Vaccinated individuals were nearly three times (aOR = 2.72, 95%CI:1.74-4.25) more likely to be managed on an outpatient basis as compared to the unvaccinated. The death rate among the vaccinated group and the unvaccinated were (0.71%; 2) and (3.45%; 17), respectively, with a significant reduction in the risk of dying among the vaccinated compared to the unvaccinated (aOR = 0.13, 95%CI: 0.028 0.554).Conclusions: Less than half of the in-patient and OPD patients were vaccinated. Mild infections, fewer days of hospitalisation, outpatient treatment and higher chances of survival were associated with being vaccinated against SARSCoV- 2. Prudent measures should be implemented to encourage the general public to take up SARS-CoV-2 vaccines.