Skip to content
1887

Access Microbiology open research platform logo Access Microbiology

Volume 5, Issue 4

Epidemiology, clinical characteristics and risk factors of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Casablanca Open Access

Abstract

This is an analytical cross-sectional study of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) based on data collected between 1 November 2020 and 31 March 2021 in Casablanca focusing on the disease’s epidemiological status and risk factors. A total of 4569 samples were collected and analysed by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR); 967 patients were positive, representing a prevalence of 21.2 % for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The mean age was 47.5±18 years, and infection was more common in young adults (<60 years). However, all age groups were at risk of COVID-19, and in terms of disease severity, the elderly were at greater risk because of potential underlying health problems. Among the clinical signs reported in this study, loss of taste and/or smell, fever, cough and fatigue were highly significant predictors of a positive COVID-19 test result (0.001). An assessment of the reported symptoms revealed that 27 % of COVID-19-positive patients (=261) experienced loss of taste and/or smell, whereas only 2 % (=72) of COVID-19-negative patients did (0.001). This result was consistent between univariate (OR=18.125) and multivariate (adjusted OR=10.484) logistic regression analyses, indicating that loss of taste and/or smell is associated with a more than 10-fold higher multivariate adjusted probability of a positive COVID-19 test (adjusted OR=10.48; 0.001). Binary logistic regression model analysis based on clinical signs revealed that loss of taste and/or smell had a performance index of 0.846 with a 0.001, confirming the diagnostic utility of this symptom for the prediction of COVID-19-positive status. In conclusion, symptom evaluation and a RT-PCR [taking into account cycle threshold ( ) values of the PCR proxy] test remain the most useful screening tools for diagnosing COVID-19. However, loss of taste/smell, fatigue, fever and cough remain the strongest independent predictors of a positive COVID-19 result.

  • Received:
  • Accepted:
  • Published Online:
Keyword(s): clinical manifestations , COVID-19 , risk factors , RT-PCR and SARS-CoV-2
© 2023 The Authors
  • This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.
Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journal/acmi/10.1099/acmi.0.000400
2023-04-21
2025-01-17
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

/deliver/fulltext/acmi/5/4/acmi000400.html?itemId=/content/journal/acmi/10.1099/acmi.0.000400&mimeType=html&fmt=ahah

References

  1. Djorwé S, Bousfiha A, Nzoyikorera N, Nkurunziza V, Mouss KA et al.Epidemiology, clinical characteristics and risk factors of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Casablanca Figshare 2023 [View Article]
     [Google Scholar]
  2. Hasöksüz M, Kiliç S, Saraç F. Coronaviruses and SARS-COV-2. Turk J Med Sci 2020; 50:549–556 [View Article]
     [Google Scholar]
  3. Yu CY, Chan KG, Yean CY, Ang GY. Nucleic acid-based diagnostic tests for the detection SARS-CoV-2: an update. Diagnostics 2021; 11:53 [View Article]
     [Google Scholar]
  4. Lu R, Zhao X, Li J, Niu P, Yang B et al. Genomic characterisation and epidemiology of 2019 novel coronavirus: implications for virus origins and receptor binding. Lancet 2020; 395:565–574 [View Article]
     [Google Scholar]
  5. Dhama K, Khan S, Tiwari R, Sircar S, Bhat S et al. Coronavirus disease 2019-COVID-19. Clin Microbiol Rev 2020; 33:e00028-20 [View Article]
     [Google Scholar]
  6. Gorbalenya AE, Baker SC, Baric RS, Groot RJ, Drosten C. The species severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus: classifying 2019-nCoV and naming it SARS-CoV-2. Nat Microbiol 2020; 5:536–544 [View Article]
     [Google Scholar]
  7. COVID-19 Map - Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. Internet]. Disponible sur coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html
     [Google Scholar]
  8. Weekly epidemiological update on COVID-19 30 March 2021 [Internet]. Disponible sur. n.d www.who.int/publications/m/item/weekly-epidemiological-update-on-covid-19---31-march-2021
  9. Laamarti M, Chemao-Elfihri MW, Kartti S, Laamarti R, Allam L et al. Genome sequences of six SARS-CoV-2 strains isolated in Morocco, obtained using Oxford Nanopore MinION Technology. Microbiol Resour Announc 2020; 9:e00767-20 [View Article]
     [Google Scholar]
  10. Morocco COVID: 527,696 Cases and 9,254 Deaths- Worldometer [Internet]. [cité 22 juin 2021]. Disponible sur. n.d www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/morocco/
  11. Ait Addi R, Benksim A, Cherkaoui M. Covid-19 variants in morocco: perspective 25 mai; 2021
  12. Accueil [Internet]. [cité17 mars 2022]. Disponible sur. n.d www.sante.gov.ma/Pages/Communiques.aspx?IDCom=381
  13. Esakandari H, Nabi-Afjadi M, Fakkari-Afjadi J, Farahmandian N, Miresmaeili SM et al. A comprehensive review of COVID-19 characteristics. Biol Proced Online 2020; 22:19 [View Article]
     [Google Scholar]
  14. Struyf T, Deeks JJ, Dinnes J, Takwoingi Y, Davenport C et al. Signs and symptoms to determine if a patient presenting in primary care or hospital outpatient settings has COVID-19 disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2020; 7:CD013665 [View Article]
     [Google Scholar]
  15. CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [Internet]. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2021 [cité 11 mai 2021]; 2021 www.cdc.gov/index.htm
  16. Khan M, Khan H, Khan S, Nawaz M. Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases at a screening clinic during the early outbreak period: a single-centre study. J Med Microbiol 2020; 69:1114–1123 [View Article]
     [Google Scholar]
  17. Owusu M, Sylverken AA, Ankrah ST, El-Duah P, Ayisi-Boateng NK et al. Epidemiological profile of SARS-CoV-2 among selected regions in Ghana: a cross-sectional retrospective study. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0243711 [View Article]
     [Google Scholar]
  18. Lalueza A, Folgueira D, Muñoz-Gallego I, Trujillo H, Laureiro J et al. Influence of viral load in the outcome of hospitalized patients with influenza virus infection. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2019; 38:667–673 [View Article]
     [Google Scholar]
  19. Yuan C, Zhu H, Yang Y, Cai X, Xiang F et al. Viral loads in throat and anal swabs in children infected with SARS-CoV-2. Emerg Microbes Infect 2020; 9:1233–1237 [View Article]
     [Google Scholar]
  20. Rao SN, Manissero D, Steele VR, Pareja J. A systematic review of the clinical utility of cycle threshold values in the context of COVID-19. Infect Dis Ther 2020; 9:573–586 [View Article]
     [Google Scholar]
  21. Fox-Lewis A, Fox-Lewis S, Beaumont J, Drinković D, Harrower J et al. SARS-CoV-2 viral load dynamics and real-time RT-PCR cycle threshold interpretation in symptomatic non-hospitalised individuals in New Zealand: a multicentre cross sectional observational study. Pathology 2021; 53:530–535 [View Article]
     [Google Scholar]
  22. Chu MA, Jang YY, Lee DW, Kim SH, Ryoo N et al. Viral load and rebound in children with coronavirus disease 2019 during the first outbreak in Daegu city. Clin Exp Pediatr 2021; 64:652–660 [View Article]
     [Google Scholar]
  23. Eyre DW, Taylor D, Purver M, Chapman D, Fowler T et al. Effect of Covid-19 vaccination on transmission of alpha and Delta variants. N Engl J Med 2022; 386:744–756 [View Article]
     [Google Scholar]
  24. Benrahma H, Idrissa D, Imane S, Jalila R, Nida M et al. Epidemiological description and analysis of RdRp, E and N genes dynamic by RT-PCR of SARS-CoV-2 in Moroccan population: Experience of the National Reference Laboratory (LNR)-UM6SS. Infectious Diseases (except HIV/AIDS) 2020 [View Article]
     [Google Scholar]
  25. Kokkinakis I, Selby K, Favrat B, Genton B, Cornuz J. Covid-19 diagnosis: clinical recommendations and performance of nasopharyngeal swab-PCR. Rev Med Suisse 2020; 16:699–701
     [Google Scholar]
  26. Korean Society of Infectious DiseasesKorean Society of Pediatric Infectious DiseasesKorean Society of EpidemiologyKorean Society for Antimicrobial TherapyKorean Society for Healthcare-associated Infection Control and Prevention et al. Report on the epidemiological features of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in the republic of Korea from January 19 to March 2, 2020. J Korean Med Sci 2020; 35:e112 [View Article]
     [Google Scholar]
  27. Rozenberg S, Vandromme J, Martin C. Are we equal in adversity? Does Covid-19 affect women and men differently?. Maturitas 2020; 138:62–68 [View Article]
     [Google Scholar]
  28. Ayoub HH, Chemaitelly H, Seedat S, Mumtaz GR, Makhoul M et al. Age could be driving variable SARS-CoV-2 epidemic trajectories worldwide. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0237959 [View Article]
     [Google Scholar]
  29. Tian S, Hu N, Lou J, Chen K, Kang X et al. Characteristics of COVID-19 infection in Beijing. J Infect 2020; 80:401–406 [View Article]
     [Google Scholar]
  30. Chen N, Zhou M, Dong X, Qu J, Gong F et al. Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of 99 cases of 2019 novel coronavirus pneumonia in Wuhan, China: a descriptive study. Lancet 2020; 395:507–513 [View Article]
     [Google Scholar]
  31. Huang C, Wang Y, Li X, Ren L, Zhao J et al. Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China. Lancet 2020; 395:497–506 [View Article]
     [Google Scholar]
  32. Argenziano MG, Bruce SL, Slater CL, Tiao JR, Baldwin MR et al. Characterization and clinical course of 1000 patients with coronavirus disease 2019 in New York: retrospective case series. BMJ 2020; 369:m1996 [View Article]
     [Google Scholar]
  33. In Brazil, COVID-19 hitting young people harder - World - The Jakarta Post [Internet]. [cité 11 mars 2022]; 2022 www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/05/22/in-brazil-covid-19-hitting-young-people-harder.html
  34. Schneider A, Kirsten H, Lordick F, Lordick F, Lübbert C et al. Covid-19 in outpatients-Is fever a useful indicator for SARS-CoV-2 infection?. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0246312 [View Article]
     [Google Scholar]
  35. Menni C, Valdes AM, Freidin MB, Sudre CH, Nguyen LH et al. Real-time tracking of self-reported symptoms to predict potential COVID-19. Nat Med 2020; 26:1037–1040 [View Article]
     [Google Scholar]
  36. Tong JY, Wong A, Zhu D, Fastenberg JH, Tham T. The prevalence of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction in COVID-19 patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2020; 163:3–11 [View Article]
     [Google Scholar]
  37. Lan F-Y, Filler R, Mathew S, Buley J, Iliaki E et al. COVID-19 symptoms predictive of healthcare workers’ SARS-CoV-2 PCR results. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0235460 [View Article]
     [Google Scholar]
  38. Denis F, Galmiche S, Dinh A, Fontanet A, Scherpereel A et al. Epidemiological observations on the association between Anosmia and COVID-19 infection: analysis of data from a self-assessment web application. J Med Internet Res 2020; 22:e19855 [View Article]
     [Google Scholar]
  39. Bruminhent J, Ruangsubvilai N, Nabhindhakara J, Ingsathit A, Kiertiburanakul S. Clinical characteristics and risk factors for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among patients under investigation in Thailand. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0239250 [View Article]
     [Google Scholar]
  40. Weiss JJ, Attuquayefio TN, White EB, Li F, Herz RS et al. Tracking smell loss to identify healthcare workers with SARS-CoV-2 infection. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0248025 [View Article]
     [Google Scholar]
  41. Wu Z, McGoogan JM. Characteristics of and important lessons from the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in China: Summary of a Report of 72 314 cases from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. JAMA 2020; 323:1239–1242 [View Article]
     [Google Scholar]
  42. Chekhlabi N, El Kettani C, Haoudar A, Bahlaoui A, Mahi M et al. The epidemiological and clinical profile of COVID-19 in children: Moroccan experience of the Cheikh Khalifa University Center. Pan Afr Med J 2020; 35:57 [View Article] [PubMed]
     [Google Scholar]
  43. He J, Guo Y, Mao R, Zhang J. Proportion of asymptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19): a systematic review and meta‐analysis. J Med Virol [Internet]. 21 juill 2020 [cité 11 juin 2021]; 2020 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7404334/
  44. Site institutionnel du Haut-Commissariat au Plan du Royaume du Maroc [Internet]. Site institutionnel du Haut-Commissariat au Plan du Royaume du Maroc. [cité 11 juin 2021]; 2021 www.hcp.ma
  45. Jacot D, Greub G, Jaton K, Opota O. Viral load of SARS-CoV-2 across patients and compared to other respiratory viruses. Microbes Infect 2020; 22:617–621 [View Article] [PubMed]
     [Google Scholar]
  46. Soria ME, Cortón M, Martínez-González B, Lobo-Vega R, Vázquez-Sirvent L et al. High SARS-CoV-2 viral load is associated with a worse clinical outcome of COVID-19 disease. Access Microbiol 2021; 3:000259 [View Article]
     [Google Scholar]
  47. Trunfio M, Venuti F, Alladio F, Longo BM, Burdino E et al. Diagnostic SARS-CoV-2 cycle threshold value predicts disease severity, survival, and six-month sequelae in COVID-19 symptomatic patients. Viruses 2021; 13:281 [View Article]
     [Google Scholar]
  48. Liu Y, Yan L-M, Wan L, Xiang T-X, Le A et al. Viral dynamics in mild and severe cases of COVID-19. Lancet Infect Dis 2020; 20:656–657 [View Article]
     [Google Scholar]
  49. Savadogo M, Ouattara A, Dahani CK, Nikiéma O, Traoré S et al. Étude comparative des manifestations cliniques observées chez les patients positifs versus patients négatifs chez les suspects de COVID-19 au CHU Yalgado Ouédraogo de Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso). Rev Mali Infectiol Microbiol 2021; 16:4–7 [View Article]
     [Google Scholar]
  50. Boumahrou L. 62 Semaines De Covid-19: L’épidémie A Cessé De Progresser Depuis 23 Jours [Internet]. [cité 13 mai 2021]; 2021 www.ecoactu.ma/62-semaines-de-covid-19-lepidemie-a-cesse-de-progresser-depuis-23-jours/
/content/journal/acmi/10.1099/acmi.0.000400
Loading
Epidemiology, clinical characteristics and risk factors of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Casablanca
Access Microbiology 5, 000400 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1099/acmi.0.000400
/content/journal/acmi/10.1099/acmi.0.000400
/content/journal/acmi/10.1099/acmi.0.000400
Loading

Data & Media loading...

Supplements

Loading data from figshare Loading data from figshare

Most cited Most Cited RSS feed

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error