The association between malaria prevalence and COVID-19 mortality

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease which is caused by a new coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) [1]. The outbreak began in Hubei province of China in December 2019, and it was announced as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on January 2020, and later on March 2020, proclaimed a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) after more than 4291 deaths were recorded in many countries [2]. COVID-19 is transmitted through close contact with infected droplets from sneezing, coughing, talking or breathing [3]. The signs and symptoms includes fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing, fatigue, headaches, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat among others [3]. Hand hygiene, social distancing, isolation and use of face masks have been recommended by WHO as well as other preventive measures such as local and international travel restrictions and lockdowns in order to stop the spread of COVID-19 [4].

As at April 20, 2021, there were about 3,021,397 COVID-19 related deaths reported globally [5]. In various countries, differences in COVID-19 mortality has been observed with most Western countries having high mortality per million population [6]. For example, the mortality per million population in the USA is 1697, the United Kingdom (1874), France (1538) and Belgium (2060). However, in developing nations, low COVID-19 mortality have been reported with Nigeria having a mortality per million population of 10, Kenya (46), India (130) and Venezuela (67). This is in contrast to what was speculated in low-and-middle income countries where the morbidity and mortality of COVID-19 was expected to be high compared to Western countries [7]. Epidemiological studies have identified several factors associated with COVID-19 mortality. A study reported that the mean age, life expectancy and other population characteristics in African countries account for the low COVID-19 mortality [8]. Another ecological study of COVID-19 mortality across 173 countries showed that median age of the population and life expectancy were associated with COVID-19 mortality [6]. Pre-existing conditions have also been found to be associated with COVID-19 deaths. The Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention reported in a study that cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension and cancers were associated with an increased risk of COVID-19 death [9].

There has been widespread speculation that hydroxychloroquine a drug used to treat malaria can be used to prevent and treat COVID-19. Although some studies reported that it may inhibit COVID-19 virus, other studies showed that it has no positive effect on COVID-19. Scientists have argued that its use in some countries is responsible for the low COVID-19 deaths in those countries, and studies conducted during the early period of the pandemic revealed that there is reduced spread of COVID-19 in malaria endemic countries [10]. Following this assumption, the hypotheses that immune response against malaria in malaria endemic countries may have protective effects against COVID-19 was proposed.

A total of 195 countries that had data on COVID-19 deaths, malaria cases and population variables were included in the study. Tables 1 and 2 show the countries with the highest and lowest COVID-19 deaths per million populations and their population characteristics. Czechia (2668), Hungary (2598) Bosnia and Herzegovina (2398) and Montenegro (2283) have the highest COVID-19 deaths per million population while Samoa (0), Turkmenistan (0) and Vanuatu (0) are among the countries with no COVID-19 mortality. Among malaria endemic countries, Benin (391065), Burkina Faso (371174), Liberia (353937) and Rwanda (352794) have the highest malaria cases per million population.

COVID-19 mortality per million population has a significant negative correlation with malaria prevalence (r = − 0.499, p < 0.001), cardiovascular deaths per 100,000 (r = − 0.305, p < 0.001) and sex ratio (− 0.323, p < 0.001). There was a significant positive correlation between COVID-19 mortality and median age (r = 0.630, p < 0.001), life expectancy (r = 0.580, p < 0.001) and 65+ mortality rate (r = 0.605, p < 0.001). Details are shown in Table 3.

Malaria prevalence and all the covariates were significant in bivariate analysis, however, multivariate analysis showed that malaria prevalence (p < 0.001; CI 0.99–0.99), mortality rate (p = 0.001; CI 1.10–1.46) and life expectancy (p = 0.040; CI 1.01–1.25) were significantly associated with COVID-19 mortality. Details of the regression analysis are shown in Table 4.

This ecological study aimed to determine the association between COVID-19 mortality and malaria prevalence. After adjusting for the population dynamics, malaria prevalence was significantly associated with COVID-19 mortality. The results of this study is consistent with previous studies which revealed that malaria endemic countries have reduced COVID-19 morbidity and mortality [10, 14, 15].

The association between COVID-19 and malaria prevalence could be as a result of immune response against malaria in malaria endemic countries, and the extensive use of chloroquine drugs and its derivatives. Several studies have revealed that it is plausible to have cross immunity, where one pathogen can provide immunity against another pathogen [16, 17]. For example, prior exposure to Plasmodium has been shown to have protective effects against Chikungunya [18]. Studies have discovered that SARS-CoV-2 uses the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor to invade the host cells [19]. Similarly, studies have revealed that ACE1 and ACE2 polymorphisms protects the host from susceptibility to malaria [20, 21]. Furthermore, studies have indicated that interferons generated by lymphocytes as an immune response to malaria have in vitro and in vivo efficacy against the coronavirus responsible for COVID-19 [22, 23]. The therapeutic role of chloroquine and its derivatives in COVID-19 infection remains unclear. Although, studies have reported the antiviral and anti-inflammatory role of these drugs, however, clinical trial is still ongoing with early results showing no difference between these drugs and standard care [24‐27]. The relationship between malaria and COVID-19 is complicated considering that malaria and COVID-19 have common symptoms, despite the fact that COVID-19 is more aggressive in adults while malaria affects more children [28].

There are several limitations to this study. Firstly, this is an ecological study and the outcome is limited with a high potential of bias. Secondly, the effect of lock downs, restriction of internal and international movement, restriction of public gatherings and public events, healthcare systems, public health surveillance and response to COVID-19 of each country and other population covariates were not adjusted in this study. Thirdly, the COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing and the results may be different few months from now. Lastly, there is a possibility of underreporting of COVID-19 deaths in malaria endemic countries. COVID-19 testing in most malaria endemic regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa was not widespread and systematic. COVID-19 tests may not have been conducted for the majority of deaths that occurred in the community and in the health facility, hence, failure to identify deaths due to COVID-19 in these countries.

In this study, a significant correlation was found between national malaria burden and COVID-19 mortality. Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia where malaria is prevalent reported lower COVID-19 deaths in contrast to the majority of European countries which have not recorded malaria infection with high number of COVID-19 deaths. Thus, exposure to malaria antigens and having anti-malarial immunity may be responsible for the reduced COVID-19 deaths in malaria endemic countries. Given the evidence from this ecological study, it may worth conducting laboratory experiments and clinical trials in order to validate the results of this study.