Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35600146›Full record

ArticleSkin health and disease2022

Trends in dermatology consultations in the COVID-19 era in Cameroon.

Edgar Mandeng Ma Linwa, Odette Berline Sigha, Angelique Jacquie Djeumen Touka, Charlotte Eposse Ekoube, Esther Eleonore Ngo Linwa, Michael Ngenge Budzi, Martin Geh Meh, Henry Fomukong Nzozone, Emmanuel Armand Kouotou, Anne-Cecile Zoung Kanyi Bissek

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Skin health and disease, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
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

10 authors.

Edgar Mandeng Ma LinwaFaculty of Health Sciences University of Buea Buea Cameroon.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4058-3509
Odette Berline SighaHopital Laquintinie de Douala Douala Cameroon.
Angelique Jacquie Djeumen ToukaHopital Laquintinie de Douala Douala Cameroon.
Charlotte Eposse EkoubeHopital Laquintinie de Douala Douala Cameroon.
Esther Eleonore Ngo LinwaFaculty of Health Sciences University of Bamenda Bamenda Cameroon.
Michael Ngenge BudziFaculty of Health Sciences University of Buea Buea Cameroon.
Martin Geh MehFaculty of Health Sciences University of Buea Buea Cameroon.
Henry Fomukong NzozoneFaculty of Health Sciences University of Buea Buea Cameroon.
Emmanuel Armand KouotouFaculté de Médecine et des Sciences Biomédicales de Yaoundé Yaoundé Cameroon.
Anne-Cecile Zoung Kanyi BissekFaculté de Médecine et des Sciences Biomédicales de Yaoundé Yaoundé Cameroon.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: With the advent of COVID-19, a highly infectious viral pandemic, first declared in Cameroon in March 2020, access to expert dermatology care was postulated to decrease. We carried out a descriptive study to understand the epidemiology of skin diseases amongst patients consulting at an outpatient dermatology clinic and its variations with the onset of COVID-19. Methods: We conducted a retrospective database study over a period of 2 years at Laquintinie hospital, Cameroon. Two periods were distinguished: 1 March 2019 to 29 February 2020 (pre-COVID-19 era) and 1 March 2020 to 28 February 2021 (COVID-19 era). Results: Overall, 5946 patients with one or more clinical conditions were analysed. The most common age group described was young adults (18-40 years). Females consulted twice as much as males (M/F ratio; 1:1.7). The mean age was 28.9 (±18.0) years with an age range of 1 month to 89 years. Infectious dermatoses predominated. However, the single most prevalent dermatologic condition was acne. There was a 35.6% drop in consultation frequency in the COVID-19 era. Conclusion: Three in four patients consulting at dermatology clinic are below 40 years, with a female predominance. Epidemiological profile of dermatoses in Cameroon is similar to that in the rest of Africa. Consultation frequency decreased in the COVID-19 era but trends in consultations were rather unaltered except for patients above 50 years where eczema and scabies increased. More studies should be conducted to understand these trends better at a national level and envisage training of health personnel on prevalent dermatoses.

Identifiers

PMID35600146
PMCPMC9111051

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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.