Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33602714›Full record

SynthesisBMJ open2021

Risk factors for COVID-19 infection, disease severity and related deaths in Africa: a systematic review.

Hailay Abrha Gesesew, Digsu Negese Koye, Dagnachew Muluye Fetene, Mulu Woldegiorgis, Yohannes Kinfu, Ayele Bali Geleto, Yohannes Adama Melaku, Hassen Mohammed, Kefyalew Addis Alene, Mamaru Ayenew Awoke and 24 more

Open access · goldAbstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMJ open, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 44 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
44citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
4.6field-weighted citation impact, top 4% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

44 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 78 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Article
  4. Drivers of COVID-19 infections: Perspectives of managers in the Gauteng Department of Health, South Africa.South African family practice : official journal of the South African Academy of Family Practice/Primary Care · 2025
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  15. Professional challenges of nurses working during the SARS-CoV-2 virus pandemic.International journal of occupational medicine and environmental health · 2023
    Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

34 authors at 20 institutions in 2 countries.

Hailay Abrha GesesewCollege of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia hailushepi@gmail.com.ORCID 0000-0002-3531-4400
Digsu Negese KoyeDepartment of Medicine at Royal Melbourne Hospital and Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Dagnachew Muluye FeteneBurnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Mulu WoldegiorgisBurnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Yohannes KinfuFaculty of Health, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
Ayele Bali GeletoResearch Centre for Generational Health and Ageing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
Yohannes Adama MelakuCollege of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-3051-7313
Hassen MohammedVaccinology and Immunology Research Trials Unit, Women's and Children's Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Kefyalew Addis AleneSchool of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Mamaru Ayenew AwokeSchool of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
Mulugeta Molla BirhanuDepartment of Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Amanuel Tesfay GebremedhinSchool of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Yalemzewod Assefa GelawInstitute of Public Health, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Desalegn Markos ShiftiSaint Paul's Hospital, Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.ORCID 0000-0001-6638-6194
Muluken Dessalegn MulunehSchool of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Penrith South, New South Wales, Australia.
Teketo Kassaw TegegneFaculty of Health and Medicine, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.
Solomon AbrhaFaculty of Health, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
Atsede Fantahun AregaySchool of Nursing and Midwifery, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Mohammed Biset AyalewDepartment of Pharmacy, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia.
Abadi Kahsu GebreSchool of Pharmacy, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia.
Kidane Tadesse GebremariamScool of Public Health, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia.
Tesfaye GebremedhinCanberra School of Politics, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
Lemlem GebremichaelDepartment of Pharmacology, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia.
Cheru Tesema LeshargieCollege of Health Science, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia.
Getiye Dejenu KibretCollege of Health Science, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia.
Maereg Wagnew MeazawResearch Centre for Generational Health and Ageing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
Alemayehu Berhane MekonnenInstitute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia.
Dejen Yemane TekleScool of Public Health, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia.
Azeb Gebresilassie TesemaScool of Public Health, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia.
Fisaha Haile TesfayScool of Public Health, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia.ORCID 0000-0003-0399-1711
Wubshet TesfayeHealth research Institute, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-7208-2330
Befikadu Legesse WubishetResearch Centre for Generational Health and Ageing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
Berihun Assefa Dachew *School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-4041-6129
Akilew Awoke Adane *Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
University of Canberra · AUThe Kids Research Institute Australia · AUUniversity of Newcastle Australia · AUUNSW Sydney · AUBurnet Institute · AUFlinders University · AUMonash University · AUSt. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College · ETUniversity of Technology Sydney · AUCurtin University · AUDeakin University · AUEdith Cowan University · AUHaramaya University · ETQueensland University of Technology · AUThe Royal Melbourne Hospital · AUThe University of Sydney · AUUniversity of Gondar · ETUniversity of South Australia · AUWestern Sydney University · AUWomen's and Children's Hospital · AU

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThe aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive evidence on risk factors for transmission, disease severity and COVID-19 related deaths in Africa.

designA systematic review has been conducted to synthesise existing evidence on risk factors affecting COVID-19 outcomes across Africa. DATA SOURCES: Data were systematically searched from MEDLINE, Scopus, MedRxiv and BioRxiv. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Studies for review were included if they were published in English and reported at least one risk factor and/or one health outcome. We included all relevant literature published up until 11 August 2020. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: We performed a systematic narrative synthesis to describe the available studies for each outcome. Data were extracted using a standardised Joanna Briggs Institute data extraction form.

resultsFifteen articles met the inclusion criteria of which four were exclusively on Africa and the remaining 11 papers had a global focus with some data from Africa. Higher rates of infection in Africa are associated with high population density, urbanisation, transport connectivity, high volume of tourism and international trade, and high level of economic and political openness. Limited or poor access to healthcare are also associated with higher COVID-19 infection rates. Older people and individuals with chronic conditions such as HIV, tuberculosis and anaemia experience severe forms COVID-19 leading to hospitalisation and death. Similarly, high burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, high prevalence of tobacco consumption and low levels of expenditure on health and low levels of global health security score contribute to COVID-19 related deaths.

conclusionsDemographic, institutional, ecological, health system and politico-economic factors influenced the spectrum of COVID-19 infection, severity and death. We recommend multidisciplinary and integrated approaches to mitigate the identified factors and strengthen effective prevention strategies.

Indexed as

AfricaCOVID-19HumansRisk FactorsSeverity of Illness Indexepidemiologypublic healthrespiratory medicine (see thoracic medicine)

Identifiers

PMID33602714
PMCPMC7896374
OpenAlexW3132062798

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.