Long COVID in Uganda: Electrographic findings among patients at risk

Article Authors: Andrew Weil Semulimi, Charles Batte, Daniel Iraguha, Pamela Apio Okwir, Hope Atuhaire, Chelsea Lipoto, Tonny Muwonge, Norah Namirembe, Grace Biyinzika Lubega, Provia Ainembabazi, John Mukisa, Felix Bongomin, Isaac Ssinabulya, Emmy Okello

    • Abstract

    Background: COVID-19 has a significant cardiovascular involvement. Electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities among people at a risk of Long COVID in Uganda was investigated.

    Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to June 2022 at the post COVID – 19 clinic in Mulago National Specialized Hospital, Kampala. A standard resting ECG was performed on individuals at least 2 months following acute COVID-19, with a negative SARS-CoV-2 reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics as well as vital signs were recorded for all study participants.

    Results: Of the 244 study participants, 117 (47.9%) were female. The median age of all the participants was 33.0 (interquartile range: 26.0 – 43.5) years. Twenty-five (10.2%) participants had a history of smoking while 117 (48%) had a history of alcohol intake. In total, 46 (18.9%) had abnormal ECG findings (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 14.39 – 24.29) and non-specific T-wave inversion (n = 16, 34%) was the most frequent ECG abnormality. The proportion of participants with ECG abnormalities was 48% lower among females (adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR): 0.52, 95% CI: 0.28 – 0.96, p value < 0.05) and 2-fold greater for those with a history of smoking (aPR: 2.03, 95% CI:1.096 – 3.776, p value < 0.05).

    Conclusion: One in five Ugandans who were checked at the clinic at a risk of Long COVID showed ECG abnormalities. ECG screening is suggested to be integrated into the follow-up care of those at a risk of Long COVID.

    Bibliographical metadata

    DOI https://doi.org/10.1002/puh2.78
    Keywords
    Links https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37867587/
    Related Faculties/Schools
    Affiliation

    Andrew Weil Semulimi 1, Charles Batte 1, Daniel Iraguha 2, Pamela Apio Okwir 3, Hope Atuhaire 4, Chelsea Lipoto 5, Tonny Muwonge 5, Norah Namirembe 5, Grace Biyinzika Lubega 5, Provia Ainembabazi 6, John Mukisa 7, Felix Bongomin 8, Isaac Ssinabulya 2 4, Emmy Okello 2 4

    1 Lung Institute, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
    2 Division of Adult Cardiology, Uganda Heart Institute, Kampala, Uganda.
    3 Clinical Epidemiology Unit, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
    4 Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
    5 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
    6 Department of Research, Infectious Diseases Institute, Kampala, Uganda.
    7 Department of Molecular Biology and Immunology, School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
    8 Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University, Gulu, Uganda.