Mortality among conﬁrmed Lassa Fever cases in Ondo State, Nigeria, January 2017- March 2019: A cross sectional study

Olayinka S.  Ilesanmi; Oladele O.  Ayodeji; Nelson A.  Adedosu; Olalekan E.  Ojo; Chukwuyem  Abejegah; Tolulope O.  Jegede; Tajudeen T.  Adebayo; Isiaka A.  Ayeni; Lanre O.  Olatunde; Liasu A.  Ahmed

doi:10.18502/jchr.v11i1.9090

Olayinka S. Ilesanmi Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan
Oladele O. Ayodeji Department of Community Health, Federal Medical Centre, Owo
Nelson A. Adedosu Department of Medical Microbiology, Federal Medical Centre, Owo
Olalekan E. Ojo Department of Medicine, Federal Medical Centre, Owo
Chukwuyem Abejegah Department of Community Health, Federal Medical Centre, Owo
Tolulope O. Jegede Department of Paediatrics, Federal Medical Centre, Owo
Tajudeen T. Adebayo Department of Health Information Management, Federal Medical Centre, Owo
Isiaka A. Ayeni Department of Pharmaceutical Services, Federal Medical Centre, Owo
Lanre O. Olatunde Department of Medicine, Federal Medical Centre, Owo
Liasu A. Ahmed Department of Family Medicine, Federal Medical Centre, Owo

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jchr.v11i1.9090

Keywords: Epidemiology, Lassa Fever, Mortality, Nigeria, Surveillance

Abstract

Background: Lassa fever (LF) is an acute viral haemorrhagic disease endemic in Ondo State, Nigeria. This study aimed to determine the factors associated with mortality among conﬁrmed LF cases.

Methods: A cross sectional study design was used by conducting a retrospective review of the records of all patients who had been treated for LF at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo since 2017 till March 2019. Descriptive statistics were done, case fatality rate was calculated. Chi square tests were used to explore associations. Logistic regression was used to identify the predictors of death. Data were analysed with SPSS version 23.0. P values ≤0.05 were statistically significant.

Results: The median age was 34 years, and the inter-quartile range was 24-48 years. A total of 30 deaths (case fatality rate [CFR] = 10.9%) were recorded, of which 24 (15.5%) were males. Also, the fatality rate increased from 1.6% in 2017 to 10.5% in 2018 and 16.7% in 2019. During peak period, mortality recorded was 15(8.5%) and non-peak periods (April to December), 14(14.9%) was recorded (p=0.104). Fatality was 12.5% (1 out of 8) among pregnant women with 100% foetal death. Patients aged 18-45 years had 0.25 odds of dying (AOR = 0.25; 95%CI= 0.08, 0.76) compared to those aged ≥ 46 years. Those who commenced ribavirin ≥7 days (AOR 4.1; CI = 1.06, 15.42) and those with elevated urea level (AOR 7.5; CI = 2.5, 23.1) have more odds of dying.

Conclusions: A well-coordinated LF outbreak response is needed both at LF peak non-peak periods.