TY - JOUR T1 - Characteristics and outcomes of admitted patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Uganda JF - BMJ Open Respiratory Research JO - BMJ Open Resp Res DO - 10.1136/bmjresp-2020-000646 VL - 7 IS - 1 SP - e000646 AU - Bruce Kirenga AU - Winters Muttamba AU - Alex Kayongo AU - Christopher Nsereko AU - Trishul Siddharthan AU - John Lusiba AU - Levicatus Mugenyi AU - Rosemary K Byanyima AU - William Worodria AU - Fred Nakwagala AU - Rebecca Nantanda AU - Ivan Kimuli AU - Winceslaus Katagira AU - Bernard Sentalo Bagaya AU - Emmanuel Nasinghe AU - Hellen Aanyu-Tukamuhebwa AU - Beatrice Amuge AU - Rogers Sekibira AU - Esther Buregyeya AU - Noah Kiwanuka AU - Moses Muwanga AU - Samuel Kalungi AU - Moses Lutaakome Joloba AU - David Patrick Kateete AU - Baterana Byarugaba AU - Moses R Kamya AU - Henry Mwebesa AU - William Bazeyo Y1 - 2020/09/01 UR - http://bmjopenrespres.bmj.com/content/7/1/e000646.abstract N2 - Rationale Detailed data on the characteristics and outcomes of patients with COVID-19 in sub-Saharan Africa are limited.Objective We determined the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in Uganda.Measurements As of the 16 May 2020, a total of 203 cases had been confirmed. We report on the first 56 patients; 29 received hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and 27 did not. Endpoints included admission to intensive care, mechanical ventilation or death during hospitalisation.Main results The median age was 34.2 years; 67.9% were male; and 14.6% were <18 years. Up 57.1% of the patients were asymptomatic. The most common symptoms were fever (21.4%), cough (19.6%), rhinorrhea (16.1%), headache (12.5%), muscle ache (7.1%) and fatigue (7.1%). Rates of comorbidities were 10.7% (pre-existing hypertension), 10.7% (diabetes) and 7.1% (HIV), Body Mass Index (BMI) of ≥30 36.6%. 37.0% had a blood pressure (BP) of >130/90 mm Hg, and 27.8% had BP of >140/90 mm Hg. Laboratory derangements were leucopenia (10.6%), lymphopenia (11.1%) and thrombocytopenia (26.3%). Abnormal chest X-ray was observed in 14.3%. No patients reached the primary endpoint. Time to clinical recovery was shorter among patients who received HCQ, but this difference did not reach statistical significance.Conclusion Most of the patients with COVID-19 presented with mild disease and exhibited a clinical trajectory not similar to other countries. Outcomes did not differ by HCQ treatment status in line with other concluded studies on the benefit of using HCQ in the treatment of COVID-19. ER -