COVID-19 is one of the world’s major health crises. The objective of this study was to determine the predictive factors of severe hypoxemia in patients hospitalized in COVID-19 health facilities in Burkina Faso.
This study was a hospital-based cross-sectional study. The data collected relate to the period of the first wave of the epidemic (March 9 to June 30, 2020). All patients hospitalized for COVID-19 in the requisitioned health facilities of Ouagadougou were included in this study. Predictors of severe hypoxemia were identified using multivariate logistic regression model.
During the study period, 442 patients were included representing 45.7% of the total number of positive patients in the whole country. The most common co-morbidities were diabetes (55; 12.4%), arterial hypertension (97; 21.9%). Severe hypoxemia (SpO2 < 90%) was observed in 64 patients (14.5%). Age over 65 years (OR = 8.24; 95% CI: 2.83 – 24.01) and diabetes (OR = 2.43; 95% CI: 1.17 – 5.06) were the predictors with the occurrence of severe hypoxemia in multivariate analysis.
The predictive factors of COVID-19 are similar in African and Caucasian populations. The surveillance of COVID-19 in risk groups should be strengthened to reduce their morbidity and mortality.

Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Ltd.