Respiratory disease patterns in rural Western Uganda, 2019–2022

• DOI: 10.3389/fped.2024.1336009
• Publication Date: 2024-04-08T04:38:07Z
• Authors: Taylor E. Weary; Patrick Tusiime; Shamilah Tuhaise; Juan Francisco Ma...; Elizabeth Ross; James E. Gern; Tony L. Goldberg
• Keywords: 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; pediatrics; Africa; respiratory symptoms; cohort study; COVID-19; Pediatrics; RJ1-570

Introduction Respiratory disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the developing world, but prospective studies temporal patterns risk factors are rare. Methods We studied people rural Western Uganda, where respiratory pervasive. followed 30 adults (ages 22–51 years; 534 observations) 234 children 3–11 1,513 between May 2019 July 2022 collected monthly data on their symptoms, for total 2,047 case records. examined associations demographic symptoms severity. Results The timing our study (before, during, after emergence COVID-19) allowed us to document effects public health measures instituted region. Incidence rates before COVID-19 lockdown were 568.4 cases per 1,000 person-months 254.2 adults. These 2.6 times higher than global average comparable Younger 3–6 years) had highest frequencies severities symptoms. Study participants most likely experience February, which seasonal pattern not previously documented. severity decreased markedly during lockdown, illustrating broad incidence disease. Discussion Our results demonstrate that settings such as Uganda resemble developed economies some ways (age-related factors) others (increased pattern). Factors indoor air quality, care access, school trimesters, (rainy/dry seasons) contribute differences observed.