Study: Severely ill COVID patients in Africa have a far higher risk of dying

People in Africa who become severely ill with coronavirus have a far higher risk of dying than intensive care patients in other parts of the world.

According to a new study, which was published on Friday, the reason may be a lack of equipment for intensive care.

The African continent has so far not been hit as hard by the pandemic as other regions in terms of the number of infections and deaths. 

However, the study’s authors believe that the death rate of those who become ill is possibly even higher than what the study shows, as the data are incomplete.

“Our study is the first to provide a detailed and comprehensive picture of what happens to people who become seriously ill with COVID-19 in Africa,” Bruce Biccard, of Groote Schuur Hospital and the University of Cape Town, said in a statement.

Lack of resources?

“Unfortunately, this indicates that our ability to provide adequate treatment is weakened by the lack of intensive care units and limited resources in intensive care units,” he added.

The study followed 3,000 corona patients admitted to intensive care units in ten African countries from May to December last year. Almost half of them died before 30 days had passed.

Elsewhere in the world, the death rate is lower. On average, it is 31.5% among critically ill patients in Asia, Europe, and the American continent. At the same time, it is 48.2% in Africa.

Source: © NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayNews

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