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Deaths in SARS-Cov-2 Positive Patients in Italy: The Influence of Underlying Health Conditions on Lethality

Author

Listed:
  • Giovanna Deiana

    (Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy)

  • Antonio Azara

    (Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy)

  • Marco Dettori

    (Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy)

  • Fiorenzo Delogu

    (Public Health Service, Local Health Unit, 07100 Sassari, Italy)

  • Gavino Vargiu

    (Public Health Service, Local Health Unit, 07100 Sassari, Italy)

  • Isabella Gessa

    (Public Health Service, Local Health Unit, 07100 Sassari, Italy)

  • Filippo Stroscio

    (Public Health Service, Local Health Unit, 07100 Sassari, Italy)

  • Marcello Tidore

    (Assessorato dell’Igiene e Sanità e dell’Assistenza Sociale, 09123 Regione Autonoma della Sardegna, Italy)

  • Giorgio Steri

    (Azienda Tutela Salute, 07100 ATS Sardegna, Italy)

  • Paolo Castiglia

    (Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy)

Abstract

This study aims to underline the clinical characteristics of patients who died after testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection in one region of Italian and to evaluate the influence of underlying health conditions on the fatal outcome. A matched case-control study was designed by analyzing the data regarding positive subjects observed up to April 21, 2020. The case fatality rate was 7.9%, with a higher proportion of deaths in men than women. The specific standardized mortality ratio was 0.15—0.13 for males and 0.2 for females, showing that mortality is much lower than expected. Cardiovascular diseases, chronic lung diseases and diabetes mellitus showed a significant association with the outcome. Although the case fatality rate in Sardinia in regard to age and gender patterns seems to be similar to that for Italy as a whole, its quantitative value was far lower than the national one and possible explanations might include the genetic characteristics of the Sardinian population or the immediate closure of its borders as soon as the epidemic started. Our results highlighted that lethality is strongly dependent on the presence of multiple concomitant serious diseases. It is important to have epidemiological strategies for effective guidance on public health actions in order to improve chances of survival.

Suggested Citation

  • Giovanna Deiana & Antonio Azara & Marco Dettori & Fiorenzo Delogu & Gavino Vargiu & Isabella Gessa & Filippo Stroscio & Marcello Tidore & Giorgio Steri & Paolo Castiglia, 2020. "Deaths in SARS-Cov-2 Positive Patients in Italy: The Influence of Underlying Health Conditions on Lethality," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-10, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:12:p:4450-:d:374374
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Vicente Paulo Alves & Francine Golghetto Casemiro & Bruno Gedeon de Araujo & Marcos André de Souza Lima & Rayssa Silva de Oliveira & Fernanda Tamires de Souza Fernandes & Ana Vitória Campos Gomes & Da, 2021. "Factors Associated with Mortality among Elderly People in the COVID-19 Pandemic (SARS-CoV-2): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-9, July.
    2. Marco Dettori & Paola Pittaluga & Giulia Busonera & Carmelo Gugliotta & Antonio Azara & Andrea Piana & Antonella Arghittu & Paolo Castiglia, 2020. "Environmental Risks Perception Among Citizens Living Near Industrial Plants: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-19, July.
    3. Antonella Arghittu & Marco Dettori & Emma Dempsey & Giovanna Deiana & Claudio Angelini & Angela Bechini & Caterina Bertoni & Sara Boccalini & Paolo Bonanni & Sandro Cinquetti & Fabrizio Chiesi & Maria, 2021. "Health Communication in COVID-19 Era: Experiences from the Italian VaccinarSì Network Websites," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-14, May.
    4. Ilenia Piras & Maria Francesca Piazza & Cristina Piccolo & Antonio Azara & Andrea Piana & Gabriele Finco & Maura Galletta, 2022. "Experiences, Emotions, and Health Consequences among COVID-19 Survivors after Intensive Care Unit Hospitalization," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-16, May.
    5. Carmelo Gugliotta & Davide Gentili & Silvia Marras & Marco Dettori & Pietro Paolo Muglia & Maria Giuseppina Desole & Marcello Acciaro & Sabina Bellu & Antonio Azara & Paolo Castiglia, 2021. "SARS-CoV-2 Epidemics in Retirement and Nursing Homes in Italy: A New Preparedness Assessment Model after the First Epidemic Wave," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-22, May.
    6. Constantin Ciucurel & Elena Ioana Iconaru, 2020. "An Epidemiological Study on the Prevalence of the Clinical Features of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Romanian People," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-19, July.
    7. Thomas Gerhard Wolf & Leonardo de Col & Seyed Ahmad Banihashem Rad & Paolo Castiglia & Antonella Arghittu & Mina Cannavale & Guglielmo Campus, 2022. "How the COVID-19 Pandemic Affects Risk Awareness in Dentists: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-14, April.
    8. Simona Tondelli & Ebrahim Farhadi & Bahareh Akbari Monfared & Mehdi Ataeian & Hossein Tahmasebi Moghaddam & Marco Dettori & Lucia Saganeiti & Beniamino Murgante, 2022. "Air Quality and Environmental Effects Due to COVID-19 in Tehran, Iran: Lessons for Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-28, November.

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