Mucheleng'anga, LA;
Telendiy, V;
Hamukale, A;
Shibemba, AL;
Zumla, A;
Himwaze, CM;
(2021)
COVID-19 and Sudden Unexpected Community Deaths in Lusaka, Zambia, Africa-A Medico-Legal Whole-Body Autopsy Case Series.
International Journal of Infectious Diseases
, 109
pp. 160-167.
10.1016/j.ijid.2021.07.001.
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COVID-19 and Sudden Unexpected Community Deaths in Lusaka, Zambia, Africa - A Medico-Legal Whole-Body Autopsy Case Series.pdf - Accepted Version Download (3MB) | Preview |
Abstract
Background: Data from Africa regarding sudden and unexpected COVID-19 community deaths and underlying pathological, demographic, and co-morbidity features require definition. Methods: We performed a case series of COVID-19-related deaths seen at Forensic Post-Mortem examination of sudden and unexpected Community Deaths in Lusaka, Zambia, Africa. Whole-body Post-Mortem examinations were performed according to Standard Operating Procedures. Patient demographics, history, co-morbidities, pathological gross and microscopic findings, and cause(s) of death were recorded. Variables were grouped as frequencies and percentages. Comparison of data was made with autopsy findings of hospital COVID-19 deaths. Findings: Of 21 COVID-19 decedents, 14/21 (66.7%) were male; 18/21, (85.7%) were below 55 years of age (mean age, 40 ± 12.3; range, 20-73). The median duration of symptoms was 1 day (range 0-2); 9/21 (42.9%) had co-morbidities, with hypertension and obesity being the most common. Main post-mortem findings were diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) (80.9%), saddle and shower emboli (38.1%, respectively), and pneumonia (14.3%). Pulmonary thromboembolism (76.2%), DAD (14.3%), and SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia (9.5%) were common causes of death. Conclusions: COVID-19 is an important cause of death to consider in forensic investigations of sudden and unexpected community deaths. Risk factors for the younger age of COVID-19 deaths and thromboembolism need to be identified.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | COVID-19 and Sudden Unexpected Community Deaths in Lusaka, Zambia, Africa-A Medico-Legal Whole-Body Autopsy Case Series |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.07.001 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2021.07.001 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | © 2021 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of International Society for Infectious Diseases. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) |
| Keywords: | Infectious Diseases, Forensic, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, Lusaka-Zambia, Africa, community deaths, post-mortem examination |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Div of Infection and Immunity |
| URI: | https://discovery-pp.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10136365 |
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