Prevalence and Psychosocial Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients in Dakar, Saint-Louis, and Ziguinchor: A Prospective Multicentric Study between February 2020 and June 2020

Abstract

Chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients are particularly vulnerable to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We assessed the prevalence and psychosocial impact of COVID-19 in these patients in Senegal. This multicenter prospective, descriptive, and analytical study included 345 patients who had been on chronic HD for at least 1 month (average age = 49.67 ± 14.58 years; sex ratio: 1.14). Eighty-one patients (23.48%) believed that COVID-19 negatively impacted their dialysis treatment. In total, 257 patients (74.49%) perceived themselves to be at risk, and 128 patients (37.1%) were worried about attending the dialysis center. Only 109 patients (31.59%) were tested by polymerase chain reaction; 13 (11.92%) were positive. In total, 322 patients (93.6%) were informed through television or radio, 338 (97.97%) were aware of the barrier measures, and 83 (24.06%) had difficulty applying the barrier measures, mainly on transport. Masks were the best-known measure, as reported by 331 patients (95.94%). In a bivariate analysis, knowledge of the barrier measures was associated with education level (P <0.001). Perceptions of the risk of COVID-19 were associated with knowledge of the barrier measures (P = 0.05), whereas transport difficulties were associated with socio-professional activity (P = 0.048) and education level (P = 0.007). Difficulties with exploration were associated with socio-professional activity (P <0.001) and educational level (P = 0.003). We found that COVID-19 was a problem among chronic HD patients in Senegal, most of whom had a good knowledge of the barrier measures. The pandemic created anxiety and difficulties in transport, drug supply, and access to specialized care among these patients.