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Microbes & Immunity Anemia among COVID-19 patients in Ethiopia

3. Results criteria. These criteria included case definition, method

3.1. Identified studies of data collection, non-response bias, representation,
sampling, reliability and validity of study tools, prevalence
The literature search retrieved a total of 860 articles. Of period, numerator and denominator, random selection,
these, 10 were excluded due to duplication. From the and data collection methods. The risk of bias assessment
remaining 850 articles, 847 were excluded because they did revealed that six studies had low risk, two studies had
not relate to the aim of this meta-analysis and did not meet moderate risk, and three studies had a high risk of
eligibility criteria. Consequently, 11 articles were included bias. Furthermore, the included studies displayed high
in this meta-analysis (Figure 1). heterogeneity based on the I test (97.77%), which
2
necessitated the use of a random-effects model (Table S1).
3.2. Description of included studies
However, we employed a funnel plot to assess
The studies included in the meta-analysis varied in their publication bias, which did not reveal any clear bias. The
design and location, with most of them conducted in Addis P-values from Egger’s regression and Begg’s test were 0.007
Ababa and three in the Amhara region. The studies were and 0.086, respectively, indicating a lack of publication
published between 2020 and 2024 and consisted of a mix bias. In addition, the funnel plot showed no signs
of retrospective and prospective cohort studies, as well as of publishing bias or asymmetry (Figure 2). To reduce
cross-sectional studies. In total, 3136 COVID-19 patients heterogeneity, subgroup analysis was conducted based on
were included in the meta-analysis (Table 1). the study region (Figure S1).

3.3. Risk of bias and heterogeneity 3.4. Prevalence of anemia
According to the JBI critical appraisal tools, each study The prevalence of anemia in Ethiopia varies significantly,
was evaluated for risk of bias and quality using 10 different ranging from 4.08% among 318 COVID-19 patients in

Figure 1. The flow chart illustrates the selection process of studies for the systematic review and meta-analysis on the prevalence of anemia among
coronavirus disease 2019 patients in Ethiopia

Volume 2 Issue 2 (2025) 120 doi: 10.36922/mi.3504