Peak Health Care Burden During the First Three COVID-19 Waves in the Republic of Croatia

Introduction: One of the main concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic was the overload of health care sector capacities. The objective of this paper was to show peak numbers of selected indicators during the three COVID-19 waves in Croatia and ensure information that will enable revision of preparedness plan and potential hospitals` (re)organization. Method(s): Retrospective analysis of COVID-19 testing, infections, hospitalizations, ICU admissions, mechanical ventilation support and deceased data collected via capacity surveillance in the Republic of Croatia during the first three waves. Result(s): Peak hospital bed occupancy rates observed in the 2nd and 3rd waves were 70.19% and 54.60%, compared to maximum capacity during the COVID-19 wave, and 168.90% and 131.38%, compared to maximum capacity between waves, while ICU beds occupancy rates were 75.51% and 70.73%, and 170.51% and 160.37%, respectively. Peak daily numbers were as follows (first/ second/third wave);positive persons: 53/4827/3198;tested persons: 1984/13325/11622;total hospitalized persons: 372/2976/2315;total mechanical ventilation needed: 31/306/278;total ICU hospitalized: unknown/370/348;deceased: 8/92/52. Conclusion(s): During pandemic waves, the requirements for hospital and ICU beds significantly exceeded standard available health sector capacities. The system has acutely adjusted by increasing the number of beds available for COVID-19 patients. However, given the peaks observed so far, a permanent additional increase or reorganization of hospital capacity is needed to ensure that during the upcoming waves non-COVID-19 and COVID-19 patients won't be endangered or part of the staff overloaded. Copyright © 2021, University Hospital of Infectious Diseases. All rights reserved.

COVID-19 incidence, hospitalizations and mortality trends in Croatia and school closures.

OBJECTIVES: COVID-19 pandemic affected majority of students worldwide because school closures were one of the first and frequently taken measures in tackling epidemic. This study analyzed trends in COVID-19 morbidity and mortality from the beginning of pandemic in Croatia, in relation to schools opening and closing. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective data review. METHODS: Data on COVID-19 positive patients in Croatia from week 9 of 2020 to week 10 of 2021 in Croatia were analyzed using joinpoint regression. Analysis also included hospitalizations and mortality trends for age groups 26 to 65 and 66+ from week 30 of 2020. RESULTS: Schools opened in fall after the summer holidays in week 37. Joinpoint regression analysis revealed a statistically significant increase in cumulative incidence rates of COVID-19 in all age groups until 50th week, except in the 19-25 age group which saw an increase until 49th week. During the period of increase, there were periods of moderate increases and rapid increases in incidence that were present between 39/41 week and 43/44 week in all age groups except in those 0-6 years [from 40th till 43rd week in age groups 7-14 and 15-18, average percentage change (APC) = 87.41, P = 0.035, and APC = 83.47, P = 0.013; from 39th till 43rd in 19-25, APC = 91.90, P = 0.002; from 40th till 44th in 26-65, APC = 74.79, P < 0.001; from 41st till 44th in 66+, APC = 81.95, P = 0.004]. Steeper increase in hospitalizations was seen in 40th week for age groups 26 to 65 (40th to 45th week APC = 34.67, P < 0.001) and 66+ (40th to 45th week APC = 38.76, P < 0.001). Steeper increase in mortality started in 41st week for both age groups 26 to 65 and 66+ (41st to 46th week APC = 59.59, P < 0.001 and 41st to 45th week APC = 70.28, P < 0.001). Schools were closed for winter holidays in week 51. A steep decrease occurred in week 50 for cases and in week 51 for mortality and hospitalizations. There was no significant increase in hospitalizations and mortality after schools were re-opened in week 03 of 2021 (primary schools) and week 07 (secondary schools). CONCLUSION: COVID-19 morbidity and mortality trends in Croatia observed in fall 2020 in Croatia perhaps cannot completely exclude potential association of school opening in all age groups. However, in winter 2021 effect was completely lacking and numbers were independent of schools' dynamics. The observed inconsistent pattern indicates that there were no association of school openings and COVID-19 morbidity and mortality trends in Croatia and that other factors were leading to increasing and decreasing numbers. This emphasizes the need to consider the introduction of other effective and less harmful measures by stakeholders, or at least to use school closures as a last resort.

Prevalence of somatic comorbidities among coronavirus disease 2019 patients in Croatia in the first pandemic wave: data from national public health databases

AIM: To determine the prevalence of common somatic comorbidities among coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) positive patients in Croatia in the first pandemic wave, and assess the differences in clinical outcomes depending on the presence of comorbidities. METHODS: We analyzed data from patients confirmed to be SARS-CoV-2-positive from February through May 2020. The data were obtained from clinical laboratories, primary health care providers, and hospitals. Previously recorded comorbidities, including diabetes, cancer, circulatory diseases, chronic pulmonary, and kidney disease, were analyzed. RESULTS: Among 2249 patients, 46.0% were men (median age 51 years;median disease duration 27 days). Hospitalization was required for 41.8% patients, mechanical ventilation for 2.5%, while 4.7% of all patients died. Patients who died were significantly older (median 82 vs 50 years, P<0.001) with a higher prevalence of all investigated comorbidities (all p's <0.001), more frequently required mechanical ventilation (34% vs 1%, P<0.001), and had shorter length of hospital stay (median 13 vs 27 days, P<0.001) with no sex preponderance. Patients requiring mechanical ventilation were significantly older (median age 70 vs 51 years, P<0.001), more frequently men (59.6% vs 45.7%, P=0.037), showed a higher prevalence of all comorbidities except ischemic heart and chronic kidney disease (all p's <0.001), and demonstrated a higher case-fatality rate (63.2% vs 3.2%, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: COVID-19 patients who died in the first pandemic wave in Croatia were more likely to suffer previous somatic comorbidities. This corroborates the findings of similar studies and calls for further research into the underlying disease mechanisms, hence providing ground for more efficient preventive measures.