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Clinical profile, prognosis and post COVID-19 syndrome among UNRWA staff in Jordan: A clinical case-series study
Haneen Aldahleh1, Anwar Batieha2, Rasheed Elayyan2
1Health department UNRWA, Jordan field office, Amman, Jordan.
Insights
Most COVID-19 patients experience long-term symptoms, with 71.3% suffering from post-COVID-19 illness. This highlights the need for ongoing assessment of medical and psychological needs for affected United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) staff in Jordan.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Corona Virus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) presents with diverse clinical manifestations and potential multi-organ involvement.
- Long-term effects of COVID-19 infection, known as post-COVID-19 illness or syndrome, require further investigation.
- This study focuses on the clinical aspects of acute COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 syndrome within the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugee (UNRWA) staff in Jordan.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the clinical manifestations of acute COVID-19 infection.
- To determine the prevalence and characteristics of post-COVID-19 syndrome among UNRWA staff.
- To inform the assessment of medical and psychological needs for affected employees.
Main Methods:
- A clinical case-series design was employed.
- A sample of 366 UNRWA staff (out of 1322 confirmed cases) was systematically selected.
- Data collection involved UNRWA medical records and phone interviews using a WHO-verified questionnaire.
Main Results:
- The incidence of COVID-19 among UNRWA staff was 20.1%, with a Case Fatality Ratio of 0.7%.
- The majority of infected individuals (97.8%) experienced acute symptoms, with fatigue, fever, and respiratory issues being most common.
- A significant majority (71.3%) did not fully recover, reporting persistent symptoms like fatigue, shortness of breath, and cognitive difficulties.
Conclusions:
- Post-COVID-19 illness is highly prevalent (71.3%) among UNRWA staff in Jordan.
- The study underscores the necessity for continued assessment of medical and psychological needs for staff experiencing post-COVID-19 syndrome.
- Unusually high reinfection rates (24%) and low asymptomatic cases (2.2%) despite vaccination warrant further attention.
Background:
The clinical manifestations of Corona Virus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) varied from patient to patient with evidence of multi-organ involvement. Many patients continue to have a wide range of symptoms for variable periods of time. The long-term effects of COVID-19 infection (post COVID-19 illness or syndrome) are not yet fully explored. This study aims to shed light on the clinical manifestations of the acute COVID-19 infection as well as post COVID-19 syndrome among the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugee (UNRWA) staff in Jordan.
Methods:
A clinical case-series was conducted on a sample of COVID-19 positive employees of the UNRWA staff in Jordan. A structured questionnaire based mainly on World Health Organization (WHO) Case Report Form (CRF) verified tool for post COVID-19 was used. A sample of 366 out of a total of 1322 confirmed cases was systemically selected and included in the present study. Data were collected from UNRWA medical records and phone interviews. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software.
Results:
The calculated Case Fatality Ratio was 0.7%. The incidence of COVID-19 among UNRWA staff in Jordan during the period of our study was 20.1%. A total of 366 respondents, 220 (60.1%) females and 146 (39.9%) males were included in the study. The mean (SD) age was 44.2 (8.0) years. Most of the infected (97.8%) developed acute COVID-19 symptoms. Fatigue, fever, joint pain, loss of smell and taste, and cough were the most common symptoms. According to WHO clinical classification of acute illness severity, 65.0% had mild illness. Only 28.7% of all subjects fully recovered from the infection, while most of them (71.3%) continued to suffer from many symptoms. Persistent fatigue (39.7%), shortness of breath (SOB) with activity (18.8%), anxiety (17.4%), forgetfulness (16.9%), trouble in concentrating (16.7%), and depressed mood (15.8%) were the most frequently reported.
Conclusion:
Post COVID-19 illness was very common (71.3%) calling for UNRWA to continue assessment of post COVID-19 syndrome and the medical and psychological needs of affected staff. Despite vaccination, only 2.2% of the infected were asymptomatic. Reinfection was unusually high (24%).
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