Prevalence of COVID-19 during 2021 in Prishtina, Kosovo: a population-based cross-sectional study

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 19 Sayı: 1, 106 - 115

Gazmend Bojaj , Arber Lama , Esra Zhubi , Rrezart Halili , Bujar Gashi , Teuta Hoxha , Agron Kamberi , Nexhmedin Hoti , Vlora Basha , Visar Berisha , Izet Sadiku , Brandon Hill , Riaz Agahi , Ilir Hoxha

https://doi.org/10.21763/tjfmpc.1557681

Öz

Background: The global crisis of COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease 2019) has prompted comprehensive research into its impact, with studies uncovering varied occurrence and mortality rates. This study seeks to determine the prevalence of COVID-19 amongst the overall population based on self-reported symptoms and testing while also examining the association of prevalence with demographic, health, and epidemiological factors.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out with citizens of Prishtina, the capital city of Kosovo from May to June 2021. We calculated the prevalence of self-reported COVID-19 symptoms and positive tests among the citizens, as well as crude and adjusted ORs examining the association of COVID-19 infection with explanatory factors, including the protection and exposure coefficient.
Results: A total of 654 (52.1%) out of 1255 respondents reported having experienced COVID-19 symptoms. Six hundred (47.8%) households reported having an infected family member and 44 (7.3%) households reported having a dead family member due to COVID-19. In addition, 47.2% of 3,068 household members were infected with COVID-19, and 1.5% died due to COVID-19. A total of 689 respondents underwent testing for COVID-19 and 184 (26.7%) reported positive results. For individuals who reported COVID-19 symptoms, higher odds for infection were found among urban residents (adjusted OR, 1.53; 95%CI, 1.13-2.07; p=0.006), individuals with infected household members (adjusted OR, 2.53; 95%CI, 2.00-3.20; p<0.001), higher exposure coefficient (adjusted OR, 2.20; 95%CI, 1.42-3.41; p<0.001), and existing health conditions (adjusted OR, 2.22; 95%CI, 1.50-3.27; p<0.001). For individuals who underwent COVID-19 testing, higher odds for infection were found among individuals with infected household members (adjusted OR, 3.51; 95% CI, 2.29-5.39; p<0.001).
Conclusion: This study highlights the prevalence of COVID-19 in Prishtina and the significance of factors like existing health conditions, household size, epidemiologic behaviour, and the number of infected members as important determinants of COVID-19 incidence.

Anahtar Kelimeler

COVID-19, pandemic, prevalence, symptoms, testing

Etik Beyan

The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Kosovo Chamber of Medical Doctors (12-08-2020, ref. no. 8/2020). The study was conducted in accordance with the local legislation and institutional requirements and the guidelines of the Helsinki Declaration for human participant data. Written informed consent was obtained from the participants for participation in the study.

Destekleyen Kurum

The study was funded by the Municipality of Prishtina.

2021 Yılında Kosova, Priştine'de COVID-19 Prevalansı: Popülasyona Dayalı Kesitsel Bir Çalışma

Öz

Giriş: Koronavirüs hastalığının (Coronavirus disease 2019-COVID-19) küresel krizi, etkilerine yönelik kapsamlı araştırmaları teşvik etmiş ve çalışmalar, farklı görülme ve ölüm oranlarını ortaya çıkarmıştır. Bu çalışma, kendi kendine bildirilen semptomlar ve testlere dayanarak genel nüfus arasında COVID-19 prevalansını belirlemeyi, ayrıca prevalansın demografik, sağlık ve epidemiyolojik faktörlerle olan ilişkisini incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır.
Yöntemler: Mayıs-Haziran 2021 tarihleri arasında Kosova'nın başkenti Priştine'deki vatandaşlarla kesitsel bir anket gerçekleştirdik. Vatandaşlar arasında kendi kendine bildirilen COVID-19 semptomları ve pozitif testlerin prevalansını, ayrıca COVID-19 enfeksiyonunun koruma ve maruziyet katsayısı gibi açıklayıcı faktörlerle ilişkisini inceleyen ham ve düzeltilmiş odds oranlarını hesapladık.
Sonuçlar: Ankete katılan 1255 kişiden 654'ü (%52.1) COVID-19 semptomları yaşadığını bildirdi. Altı yüz (%47.8) hane, bir aile üyesinin enfekte olduğunu ve 44 (%7.3) hane, bir aile üyesinin COVID-19 nedeniyle öldüğünü bildirdi. Ek olarak, 3064 hane üyesinin %47.2'si COVID-19 ile enfekte olmuş ve %1.5'i COVID-19 nedeniyle hayatını kaybetmiştir. Toplam 689 katılımcı COVID-19 testi yaptırmış olup, 184'ü (%26.7) pozitif sonuç bildirmiştir. COVID-19 semptomlarını bildiren bireyler arasında, enfeksiyon açısından daha yüksek olasılıklar; kentsel bölgede yaşayanlar (aOR, 1.53; 95%CI, 1.13-2.07; p=0.006), enfekte hane üyeleri olanlar (aOR, 2.53; 95%CI, 2.00-3.20; p<0.001), daha yüksek maruziyet katsayısı (aOR, 2.20; 95%CI, 1.42-3.41; p<0.001) ve mevcut sağlık sorunları olanlar (aOR, 2.22; 95%CI, 1.50-3.27; p<0.001) arasında bulunmuştur. COVID-19 testi yaptıran bireyler arasında, enfekte hane üyeleri olanlarda enfeksiyon açısından daha yüksek olasılıklar (aOR, 3.51; 95% CI, 2.29-5.39; p<0.001) bulunmuştur.
Sonuç: Bu çalışma, Priştine'deki COVID-19 prevalansını ve mevcut sağlık sorunları, hane büyüklüğü, epidemiyolojik davranış ve enfekte üye sayısı gibi faktörlerin COVID-19 insidansının önemli belirleyicileri olduğunu vurgulamaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

COVID-19, pandemi, prevalans, semptomlar, test

Etik Beyan

Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the Ethics Committee of the Kosovo Doctors Chamber (12-08-2020, ref. no. 8/2020), and informed consent was given by every participant of the study. The study was carried out by the guidelines of the Helsinki Declaration for human participant data.

Destekleyen Kurum

The study was funded by the Municipality of Prishtina.

Kaynakça

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