Soulandi Djorwé, Laboratory of Physiopathology and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Sciences Ben M'Sik, Hassan II University of Casablanca (Morocco). Avenue Cdt Driss El Harti, PB 7955 Sidi Othman Casablanca (Morocco)Follow
Amale Bousfiha, Laboratory of Physiopathology and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Sciences Ben M'Sik, Hassan II University of Casablanca (Morocco). Avenue Cdt Driss El Harti, PB 7955 Sidi Othman Casablanca (Morocco)
Néhémie Nzoyikorera, National Reference Laboratory, National Institute of Public Health, Burundi
Joseph Nyandwi, Département de Médecine, Faculté de Médecine, Université du Burundi, Burundi
Bellamine Kawthar, Bourgogne Laboratory of Medical and Scientific Analysis, 136, residence belhcen, Bd Bourgogne, Casablanca (Morocco)
Abderrahim Malki, Laboratory of Physiopathology and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Sciences Ben M'Sik, Hassan II University of Casablanca (Morocco). Avenue Cdt Driss El Harti, PB 7955 Sidi Othman Casablanca (Morocco)

Background: COVID-19 patients usually present multiple comorbidities and complications associated with severe forms of SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study aimed to assess the risk factors and prevalence of comorbidities and complications contributing to the severity of COVID-19.

Methods: This meta-analysis was performed according to PRISMA guidelines. We searched various databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus (between 2020 and 2023), for eligible studies for this meta-analysis.

Results: Thirty-three studies were eligible, including 85812 patients, of which 36% (30634/85812) had severe disease, whereas 64% (55178/85812) had non-severe disease. Severe cases were potentially correlated with the following factors: gender (male) (odd ratio (OR) =1.52, 95% CI: 1.34-1.73), advanced age (OR=3.06, 95% CI: 2.18-4. 40 ) pre-existing smoking (OR =1.33, 95% CI : 1.01-1.75), obesity (OR=2.11, 95% CI : 1.47-3.04), diabetes (OR =1.81 , 95% CI : 1.35 - 2.43), hypertension (OR =2.22, 95% CI : 1. 72-2.87), coronary heart disease (OR=2.17, 95% CI: 1.42-3.31), CKD (OR =2.27, 95% CI: 1.26-4.06), COPD (OR=1.95, 95% CI: 1.22-3.09), malignancy (OR =1.63, 95% CI: 1.07-2.49) and cerebrovascular disease (OR= 2.76, 95% CI: 1.63-4.62). All these comorbidities were significantly higher in the severe COVID-19 group compared with the non-severe COVID-19 group. In addition, the most severe complications were associated with shock (OR=28.08, 95% CI: 3.49 - 226.03), ARDS (OR=13.09, 95% CI: 5.87-29.18), AKI (OR= 16.91, 95% CI: 1.87-152.45) and arrhythmia (OR=7.47, 95% CI: 2.96-18.83). However, these complications were the most likely to prevent recovery in patients with severe affections compared with non-severe affection groups.

Conclusion: All the comorbidities and complications listed above are more likely to cause severe forms of COVID-19 in some patients and hinder recovery. They are therefore risk factors to be controlled to minimize the undesirable effects of the disease.

Djorwé, Soulandi; Bousfiha, Amale; Nzoyikorera, Néhémie; Nyandwi, Joseph; Kawthar, Bellamine; and Malki, Abderrahim (2024) "Impact and prevalence of comorbidities and complications on the severity of COVID-19 in association with age, gender, obesity, and pre-existing smoking: A meta-analysis," BioMedicine: Vol. 14 : Iss. 1 , Article 3.
DOI: 10.37796/2211-8039.1429