Barsosio, Hellen C., Tangara, Brian, Ongalo, Joshua, Achieng, Morine, Marlais, Tegwen, McCarthy, Kimberly D., Otieno, Kephas, Wanjiku, Miriam, Matthewman, Julian, Allen, David, Hannan, Luke, Date, Anand, Lesosky, Maia ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2026-958X, Kariuki, Simon, Samuels, Aaron, Drakeley, Chris, terKuile, Feiko
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3663-5617 and Samandari, Taraz
(2025)
'Self-reported COVID-19 severity among persons with tuberculosis infection in western Kenya, 2021'. PLOS Global Public Health, Vol 5, Issue 4, e0004372.
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Abstract
Whilst a quarter of the world’s population is estimated to be infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, it is unknown whether TB infection (TBI) increases the risk of severe COVID-19, which is relevant in TB-endemic settings, especially where HIV co-infection is also common. A convenience cohort of symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID-19 patients aged 8–80 years in western Kenya was followed daily for 14 days to assess disease progression using the validated inFLUenza-Patient-Reported-Outcome Plus signs and symptom tool. Nasal swabbing for SARS-CoV-2 was conducted to confirm the virus using polymerase chain reaction. QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus was used to diagnose TBI. HIV status was based on self-reports. Between January 3, 2021, and January 20, 2022, 373 out of 387 participants had conclusive QuantiFERON results. At baseline, 5.9% (22/373) had self-reported severe COVID-19, 33.2% (124/373) had TBI, and 11.1% (38/341) reported being HIV-infected. Median follow-up of the cohort was 105 days (range 0–368). Self-reported severe COVID-19 was experienced by 10 of 124 (8.1%) participants compared with 12 of 249 (4.8%) without TBI (odds ratio [OR] 1.73, 95% CI 0.73-4.12, p = 0.21). HIV was not associated with self-reported severe COVID-19 (OR 3.13, 0.96-8.77, p = 0.039, adjusted OR 2.77, 95%CI 0.84-7.93, p = 0.070), but age ≥ 50 years was associated with self-reported severe COVID-19 (OR 3.73, 1.47-9.07, p = 0.004, adjusted OR 2.91, 95%CI 1.02-7.69, p = 0.035). One participant died of COVID-19 three days after diagnosis, and another participant developed active TB 128 days after his COVID-19 diagnosis and was successfully treated. Both were QuantiFERON positive. Self-reported severe COVID-19 was associated with older age and not TBI. Our finding that increased age was associated with self-reported severe COVID-19 is consistent with findings in multiple settings around the world.
Item Type: | Article |
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Subjects: | WC Communicable Diseases > Virus Diseases > Viral Respiratory Tract Infections. Respirovirus Infections > WC 506 COVID-19 WF Respiratory System > Tuberculosis > WF 200 Tuberculosis (General) |
Faculty: Department: | Clinical Sciences & International Health > Clinical Sciences Department |
Digital Object Identifer (DOI): | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0004372 |
SWORD Depositor: | JISC Pubrouter |
Depositing User: | JISC Pubrouter |
Date Deposited: | 14 May 2025 13:50 |
Last Modified: | 14 May 2025 13:50 |
URI: | https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/26651 |
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