The Impact of Age on Malaria Prevalence among COVID-19 Patients and Healthy Volunteers with some Associated Symptoms in Rivers State, Nigeria

Background: The co-morbidity of malaria and COVID-19 is a growing public health concern since the outbreak of covid-19 especially in low and middle income countries due to poor healthcare facilities, system, personnel manpower and financial resources. It is generally known that age has a significant impact on malaria vulnerability, but with emerging concern on malaria and covid-19 co-infection, age based prevalence are among many studied characteristics of malaria prevalence in covid-19 patients especially in malaria endemic areas.

Aim: The study was aimed at evaluating the impact of age in the prevalence of malaria and COVID-19 co-infection as well as some associated symptoms in Rivers State, Nigeria.

Methodology: The study was a cross-sectional study conducted among 600 covid-19 patients admitted in Rivers State Covid-19 Treatment Centre, Eleme. Consenting subjects were randomly selected and were classified into three groups based on age; 0-25yrs, 26-50yrs and >50yrs. Blood samples were collected using venipuncture technique and blood was collected in EDTA bottles. Thick film was prepared was stained using Giemsa for malaria microscopy. All data generated were analyzed statistically using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and chi-square test with a P<0.05 considered significant.

Result: Results showed that total malaria prevalence was 70.2 while on age group classifications, the prevalence was 100% in all age groups but healthy control group had less prevalence. This study has shown that prevalence of malaria among covid-19 subjects was significantly higher in all age groups (p<0.05). All symptoms were significantly associated with age at P<0.05; individuals >50years and 26 – 50years experienced more symptoms among COVID-19 patients and healthy volunteers respectively (P<0.05).

Conclusion: This study has shown that malarial prevalence is absolutely higher among covid-19 subjects and the level of prevalence does not discriminate among age groups. However, more research work is needed to fully understand the relationship between malaria and COVID-19 co-infection due to the novel nature of the disease globally and their shared clinical symptoms.