Abstract

This study was intended to explore sociodemographic, nutritional, and health-related factors on the incidence of COVID-19 infection within the Egyptian population by assessing the frequency and determinants of post-COVID-19 symptoms and complications. A cross-sectional study using a structured survey on 15,166 participants was adopted. The results revealed common symptoms including fever (79.1%), cough (74.5%), anosmia& ageusia (68.4%), and dyspnea (66.9%). The patients were nonsmokers (83.9%), while 9.7% were mild smokers. The percentage of infected patients with comorbidities versus those without comorbidities were 29%, 71%, respectively. The highest incidence of infection was in those patients with hypertension (14.8%) and diabetes (10.9%), especially females with age >50 years and obesity (BMI; 30–39.9). The highest risks were observed for anticoagulants in the age above 50 years, morbid obesity, presence of comorbidities, and being a healthcare worker. The predictors of clot risk were in the age above 50 years, non-educated, and eating meat and eggs. Nonetheless, the highest risk of using antidepressants was in patients >50 years and those who traveled abroad. These findings and similarities within the surrounding region, the Middle East, North Africa, and South Europe, indicate the possibility of sharing the same viral strain and characteristics that may predict a similar vaccine efficacy and response.

Highlights

  • Since December 2019, the whole world has been encountering an unprecedented outbreak of COVID-19, which has originated in Wuhan, China [1,2]

  • In February 2020, the first COVID-19 case was witnessed in Egypt and Africa

  • Resembling the neighboring countries, the Ministry of Health in Egypt declared a state of health emergency and enforced precautionary public health actions that included the mandatory use of masks, social distancing, and quarantine for suspected patients [4]

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Summary

Introduction

Since December 2019, the whole world has been encountering an unprecedented outbreak of COVID-19, which has originated in Wuhan, China [1,2]. In February 2020, the first COVID-19 case was witnessed in Egypt and Africa. In March 2020, the pandemic spread globally, affecting 118,000 people in 114 countries, causing 4291 deaths worldwide [3]. In January 2022, the total worldwide confirmed cases reached more than 321 million, deaths over 5.5 million and total given vaccine doses over 9.5 billion as reported by the John Hopkins University center for systems science and engineering. As of February 2021, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Egypt has ascended to 165,525 and 9460 deaths as per the reports acknowledged by the Ministry of Health and Population. Egypt has already started its vaccination campaign in mid-January 2021, prioritizing elderly patients, those with comorbidities, and healthcare workers. Since the third wave had already started and was peaking the majority of Egyptians not yet vaccinated, the hitherto anticipated protection was not to be expected

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