A retrospective study on epidemiological and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 in Baluchistan (Pakistan) and its future perspectives

Sadia Sabir; Nazish Sabir; Ayesha Mushtaq; Merman Gul; Muhammad Jawad Khan

doi:10.32593/jstmu/Vol6.Iss1.226

Sadia Sabir Department of Health, Provincial Public Health Reference Laboratory, Quetta, Pakistan
Nazish Sabir Department of Chemistry, Government Girls Degree College Jinnah Town, Quetta, Pakistan
Ayesha Mushtaq Department of Chemistry, SBK Women's University, Quetta, Pakistan
Merman Gul Department of Chemistry, SBK Women's University, Quetta, Pakistan
Muhammad Jawad Khan Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University, Islamabad, Pakistan

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32593/jstmu/Vol6.Iss1.226

Keywords: COVID19, SARS-CoV-2, Epidemiology, Balochistan, Real-time PCR, Comorbidities

Abstract

Background: The rise of a viral respiratory sickness was recognized in China and later known as COVID-19. The current study reports the epidemiological and clinical attributes of COVID-19 in Baluchistan.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the epidemiological parameters and route of transmission of COVID-19 positivity that will help the health department develop future strategies to handle deadly pandemics.

Methodology: This study was performed by gathering information from patients with their socioeconomics, epidemiological status, history of comorbidity, and clinical signs of the disease. The data was collected from the COVID-19 dashboard. A correlation test was applied to evaluate the connection between clinical pathological parameters.

Results: A sum of 3999 clinical records was analyzed. Total 70.8% of patients were positive, and 29.2% were negative. The most affected group was aged 22-42, however, disease severity increased with age. Most positive patients had a high fever, severe cough, sore throat, body ache, shortness of breath and comorbidity on clinical pathological grounds. The earliest reported cases of the infection were connected to travelers returning to Pakistan from Iran. The spread among men was higher as compared to women.

Conclusion: This report will display a linkage between the studies of disease transmission and clinical features which thus can be helpful to forestall the local transmission of similar infections in future. The epidemiological literature on this topic from Baluchistan is scarce.

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Author Biographies

Sadia Sabir, Department of Health, Provincial Public Health Reference Laboratory, Quetta, Pakistan

Molecular Biologist, Department of Health, Provincial Public Health Reference Laboratory, Quetta, Pakistan

Nazish Sabir, Department of Chemistry, Government Girls Degree College Jinnah Town, Quetta, Pakistan

Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, Government Girls Degree College Jinnah Town, Quetta, Pakistan.

Ayesha Mushtaq, Department of Chemistry, SBK Women's University, Quetta, Pakistan

Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, SBK Women's University, Quetta, Pakistan

Merman Gul, Department of Chemistry, SBK Women's University, Quetta, Pakistan

M.Phil. Scholar, Department of Chemistry, SBK Women's University, Quetta, Pakistan

Muhammad Jawad Khan, Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University, Islamabad, Pakistan

Associate Professor, Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University, Islamabad, Pakistan

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