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BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: People with multiple sclerosis (MS) suffer from higher infection-related mortality compared to the general population; however, sparse data are available on the increased risk of death associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and other common types of infections. METHODS: All mortality records and multiple-cause-of-death data in 2010-2021 of residents in the Veneto region (northeastern Italy) were extracted. Mention of specific infections was compared between death certificates reporting MS or not. Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated by conditional logistic regression matching by age, sex and calendar year. The bimonthly averages of MS-related deaths in 2010-2019 were compared with those registered during the pandemic (2020-2021). RESULTS: Of 580,015 deaths through 2010-2021, MS was mentioned in 850 cases (0.15%), 59.3% women. Influenza and pneumonia were reported in 18.4% of MS-related compared to 11.0% non-MS-related deaths (OR 2.72, 95% CI 2.28-3.25). The odds of mention of urinary tract infections was significantly greater in MS-related deaths of men (OR 8.16, 95% CI 5.23-12.7) than women (OR 3.03, 95% CI 1.82-5.02). Aspiration pneumonia, pressure ulcers/skin infections and sepsis were also significantly associated with MS-related deaths. Reporting of COVID-19 as a cause of death did not significantly differ between deaths with and without mention of MS (approximately 11% of both). However, compared to 2010-2019, peaks in MS-related deaths were observed during the pandemic waves. CONCLUSIONS: Infections continue to play a significant role in MS-related deaths, underlying the need to improve prevention and management strategies.
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INTRODUCTION: This study assesses the risk of infection and clinical outcomes in a large consecutive population of cancer and non-cancer patients tested for SARS-CoV-2 status. METHODS: Study patients underwent SARS-CoV-2 molecular-testing between 22 February 2020 and 31 July 2020, and were found infected (CoV2+ve) or uninfected. History of malignancy was obtained from regional population-based cancer registries. Cancer-patients were distinguished by time between cancer diagnosis and SARS-CoV-2 testing (<12/⩾12 months). Comorbidities, hospitalization, and death at 15 September 2020 were retrieved from regional population-based databases. The impact of cancer history on SARS-CoV-2 infection and clinical outcomes was calculated by fitting a multivariable logistic regression model, adjusting for sex, age, and comorbidities. RESULTS: Among 552,362 individuals tested for SARS-CoV-2, 55,206 (10.0%) were cancer-patients and 22,564 (4.1%) tested CoV2+ve. Irrespective of time since cancer diagnosis, SARS-CoV-2 infection was significantly lower among cancer patients (1,787; 3.2%) than non-cancer individuals (20,777; 4.2% - Odds Ratio (OR)=0.60; 0.57-0.63). CoV2+ve cancer-patients were older than non-cancer individuals (median age: 77 versus 57 years; p<0.0001), were more frequently men and with comorbidities. Hospitalizations (39.9% versus 22.5%; OR=1.61; 1.44-1.80) and deaths (24.3% versus 9.7%; OR=1.51; 1.32-1.72) were more frequent in cancer-patients. CoV2+ve cancer-patients were at higher risk of death (lung OR=2.90; 1.58-5.24, blood OR=2.73; 1.88-3.93, breast OR=1.77; 1.32-2.35). CONCLUSIONS: The risks of hospitalization and death are significantly higher in CoV2+ve individuals with past or present cancer (particularly malignancies of the lung, hematologic or breast) than in those with no history of cancer.
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OBJECTIVES: to examine the differences in SARS-CoV-2 infection and hospitalization rates among migrant populations in Veneto Region (Northern Italy), according to the geographic area of origin. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: all residents in Veneto Region aged <65 years were included in the analyses. All subjects infected by SARS-CoV-2 and hospitalized for COVID-19 were identified by means of the regional biosurveillance system. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: age- and gender-specific infection and hospitalization rates were stratified by geographic area of origin and were estimated using the number of incident cases over the resident population in Veneto on 01.01.2021. Incidence rate ratios (IRR) for infection and hospitalization rates were estimated using a Poisson model, adjusted for age and gender, among migrants compared to Italians. RESULTS: compared to Italians, SARS-CoV-2 infection rates were significantly higher among migrants from Central and South America and Central and South Asia, lower among those from North Africa and High-Income Countries (HIC), and were approximately halved for those coming from Other Asian Countries (mainly represented by China). Hospitalization rates were significantly higher for all migrant populations when compared to Italians, with the exception of those coming from HIC. Neither age nor gender seemed to modify the association of the geographic area of origin with SARS-CoV-2 infection and hospitalization rates. IRR for SARS-CoV-2 infection of migrants compared to Italians showed how migrants from Other Asian Countries had the lowest infection rates (-53%), followed by people from HIC (-25%), North Africa (-21%), and Eastern Europe (-10%). Higher infection rates were present for Central and South America and Central and South Asia (+17% and +10, respectively). Hospitalization rates were especially high among migrants from Central and South Asia, Africa, and Central and South America, ranging from 1.84 to 3.14 times those observed for Italians. CONCLUSIONS: a significant heterogeneity in SARS-CoV-2 infection and hospitalization rates of migrant populations from different geographic areas of origin were observed. The significantly lower incidence rate ratio for infections, compared to that observed for hospitalizations, is suggestive of a possible under-diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection among migrant populations. Public health efforts should be targeted at increasing support among migrants to contrast the spread of the pandemic by potentiating vaccination campaigns, contact tracing, and COVID-19 diagnostic tests.
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COVID-19 , Emigrants and Immigrants , COVID-19/epidemiology , Humans , Italy/epidemiology , Pandemics , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
AIM: In a consecutive series of cancer patients tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection, this retrospective population-based study investigates the risks of viral infection and death. METHODS: Malignancies were distinguished as incident or prevalent (active or inactive). Cancer management and vital status were retrieved from institutional regional databases. Comorbidities were recorded, based on Adjusted Clinical Groups (ACG). Six Resource Utilization Bands (RUBs) were also considered. Independent risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection and death were identified using multivariable logistic regression, considering sex, age, comorbidities and RUBs, cancer status (active versus prevalent), primary cancer site, and treatments (chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy). RESULTS: Among 34,929 cancer patients, 1,090 (3.1%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection (CoV2+ve). The risk of infection was associated with age (OR per 1-year increase=1.012; 95%CI=1.007-1.017), prevalent-inactive disease, hematologic malignancies (OR=1.33; 95%CI=1.03-1.72) and RUB (OR per 1-level increase=1.14; 95%CI=1.05-1.24). Among CoV2+ve cancer patients, the risk of death was doubled for males, and increased with age (OR per 1-year increase=1.07; 95%CI=1.06-1.09) and comorbidities (renal [OR=3.18; 95%CI=1.58-6.49], hematological [OR=3.08; 95%CI=1.49-6.50], respiratory [OR=2.87; 95%CI=1.61-5.14], endocrine [OR=2.09; 95%CI=1.25-3.51]). Lung and blood malignancies raised the mortality risk (OR=3.55; 95%CI=1.56-8.33, and OR=1.81; 95%CI=1.01-3.25 respectively). Incident or prevalent-active disease and recent chemotherapy and radiotherapy (OR=4.34; 95%CI=1.85-10.50) increased the risk of death. CONCLUSION: In a large cohort of cancer patients, the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection was higher for those with inactive disease than in incident or prevalent-active cases. Among CoV2+ve cancer patients, active malignancies and recent multimodal therapy both significantly raised the risk of death, which increased particularly for lung cancer.
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BackgroundVeneto was one of the Italian regions hit hardest by the early phase of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.AimThis paper describes the public health response and epidemiology of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections in the Veneto Region from 21 February to 2 April 2020.MethodsInformation on the public health response was collected from regional health authorities' official sources. Epidemiological data were extracted from a web-based regional surveillance system. The epidemic curve was represented by date of testing. Characteristics of hospitalised COVID-19 cases were described and compared to those never admitted to hospital. Age- and sex-stratified case-fatality ratios (CFRs) were calculated.ResultsKey elements of the regional public health response were thorough case-finding and contact tracing, home care for non-severe cases, creation of dedicated COVID-19 healthcare facilities and activation of sub-intensive care units for non-invasive ventilation. As at 2 April 2020, 91,345 individuals were tested for SARS-CoV-2 and 10,457 (11.4%) were positive. Testing and attack rates were 18.6 per 1,000 and 213.2 per 100,000 population, respectively. The epidemic peaked around 20 to 24 March, with case numbers declining thereafter. Hospitalised cases (n = 3,623; 34.6%) were older and more frequently male compared with never-hospitalised cases. The CFR was 5.6% overall, and was higher among males and people > 60 years of age.ConclusionIn the Veneto Region, the strict social distancing measures imposed by the Italian government were supported by thorough case finding and contact tracing, as well as well-defined roles for different levels of care.