PA-357 COVID-19 monitoring in Cameroon reveals men and elderly persons at risk of prolonged duration of positivity: a contribution toward Long-COVID

• Published in: BMJ global health Vol. 8; no. Suppl 10; p. A69
• Main Authors: Kengni Ngueko, Aurelie Minelle, Fokam, Joseph, Nka, Alex Durand, Chenwi, Collins Ambe, Jagni Semengue, Ezechiel Ngoufack, Bouba, Yagai, Takou, Désiré, Fainguem, Nadine, Tommo Tchouaket, Michel Carlos, Ka’e, Aude Christelle, Angongbeloumou, Grace, Djupsa Ndjeyep, Sandrine Clair, Pabo Togna, Willy Leroi, Anguechia, Davy-Hyacinthe Gouissi, Etame, Naomi-Karell, Molimbou, Evariste, Nayang Mundo, Rachel Audrey, Abba, Aissatou, Sosso, Samuel Martin, Otokoye, John Otshudiema, Ouankou, Christian Ngongang, Alteri, Claudia, Colagrossi, Luna, Santoro, Maria-Mercedes, Ceccherini-Silberstein, Francesca, Boum, Yap, Halle Ekane, Edie Gregory, Njamnshi, Alfred K, Colizzi, Vittorio, Ndembi, Nicaise, Ndjolo, Alexis, Perno, Carlo-Frederico
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 17.12.2023; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Abstracts of Poster and e-Poster Presentations; COVID-19; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Cameroon
• ISSN: 2059-7908
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2023-EDC.169

BackgroundThe novel Coronavirus 2019 pandemic brings about overwhelming demographic, social, and economic damage worldwide. Evidence on disease progression (COVID-19) and viral clearance time remain limited in resource limited settings. Such understanding is crucial for public health control measures at both individual and community-levels. We evaluated the viral clearance of SARS-CoV-2 infection and factors associated with positivity duration in COVID-19 cases in Cameroon.MethodsA prospective cohort-study of SARS-CoV-2 positive cases was conducted from March 2020-October 2021 in Yaounde-Cameroon (representing the first-three waves). RT-PCR was carried out on the participants using nasopharyngeal swabs. SARS-CoV-2 positivity duration was evaluated from the first to last positive PCR-test before a negative result. Epi-info V.7.0 and Graphpad Prism Version 6 was used for data analyses with p<0.05 considered statistically significant. ResultsA total of 282 participants were enrolled; mean age was 41±14 years, 62.1% were males, and 15.6% (42/282) symptomatic cases with 59.0% (25/42) having cough. The overall median of positivity duration was 15 [IQR: 9–23] days. Positivity duration was significantly higher in males (16 versus 14 days, p=0.03) and people aged >40 years (15 versus 14 days, p=0.02). Positivity duration was not affected by presence or absence of symptoms (p=0.80) and so significant correlation was found with viral load (r=0.03; p=0.61). Considering baseline (24.7±7.2Ct) and last viral load (29.3±5.9 Ct), the ΔCt (4.6±1.3) and positivity duration (15 days) revealed a kinetic in viral decay of 0.3±0.087 Ct/day.ConclusionIn this African setting, the positivity duration of 15 days is in accordance with viral clearance around 2 weeks for optimal confinement at community-level, with men and/or the elderly experiencing prolonged infection. Given the viral decay (0.3 Ct daily), we suggest personalized control periods in accordance with baseline viral loads.