Determinants of COVID-19-Related Length of Hospital Stays and Long COVID in Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

Shirley Crankson, Subhash Pokhrel and Nana Kwame Anokye
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Shirley Crankson: Division of Global Public Health, Department of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, London UB8 3PH, UK
Subhash Pokhrel: Division of Global Public Health, Department of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, London UB8 3PH, UK
Nana Kwame Anokye: Division of Global Public Health, Department of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, London UB8 3PH, UK

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Objectives: There is paucity of data on determinants of length of COVID-19 admissions and long COVID, an emerging long-term sequel of COVID-19, in Ghana. Therefore, this study identified these determinants and discussed their policy implications. Method: Data of 2334 patients seen at the main COVID-19 treatment centre in Ghana were analysed in this study. Their characteristics, such as age, education level and comorbidities, were examined as explanatory variables. The dependent variables were length of COVID-19 hospitalisations and long COVID. Negative binomial and binary logistic regressions were fitted to investigate the determinants. Result: The regression analyses showed that, on average, COVID-19 patients with hypertension and diabetes mellitus spent almost 2 days longer in hospital ( p = 0.00, 95% CI = 1.42–2.33) and had 4 times the odds of long COVID (95% CI = 1.61–10.85, p = 0.003) compared to those with no comorbidities. In addition, the odds of long COVID decreased with increasing patient’s education level (primary OR = 0.73, p = 0.02; secondary/vocational OR = 0.26, p = 0.02; tertiary education OR = 0.23, p = 0.12). Conclusion: The presence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus determined both length of hospitalisation and long COVID among patients with COVID-19 in Ghana. COVID-19 prevention and management policies should therefore consider these factors.

Keywords: long COVID; COVID-19; hospitalisation; determinants; Ghana (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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