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De Paepe A, Vlieghe E, Brusselaers N, Soentjens P, Theunissen C, Brosius I, Grouwels J, Van Petersen L, van Tiggelen H, Verbrugghe W, Jorens PG, Lapperre T, Peeters K, Vermeulen G, van Ierssel SH. COVID-19 in three waves in a tertiary referral hospital in Belgium: a comparison of patient characteristics, management, and outcome. Virol J 2024; 21:119. [PMID: 38816850 PMCID: PMC11138039 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-024-02360-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Few studies have compared patient characteristics, clinical management, and outcome of patients with COVID-19 between the different epidemic waves. In this study, we describe patient characteristics, treatment, and outcome of patients admitted for COVID-19 in the Antwerp University Hospital over the first three epidemic waves of 2020-2021. METHODS Retrospective observational study of COVID-19 patients in a Belgian tertiary referral hospital. All adult patients with COVID-19, hospitalized between February 29, 2020, and June 30, 2021, were included. Standardized routine medical data was collected from patient records. Risk factors were assessed with multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS We included 722 patients, during the first (n = 179), second (n = 347) and third (n = 194) wave. We observed the lowest disease severity at admission during the first wave, and more elderly and comorbid patients during the second wave. Throughout the subsequent waves we observed an increasing use of corticosteroids and high-flow oxygen therapy. In spite of increasing number of complications throughout the subsequent waves, mortality decreased each wave (16.6%,15.6% 11.9% in 1st, 2nd and 3rd wave respectively). C-reactive protein above 150 mg/L was predictive for the need for intensive care unit admission (odds ratio (OR) 3.77, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.32-6.15). A Charlson comorbidity index ≥ 5 (OR 5.68, 95% CI 2.54-12.70) and interhospital transfers (OR 3.78, 95% CI 2.05-6.98) were associated with a higher mortality. CONCLUSIONS We observed a reduction in mortality each wave, despite increasing comorbidity. Evolutions in patient management such as high-flow oxygen therapy on regular wards and corticosteroid use may explain this favorable evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas De Paepe
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases, and Tropical Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, Drie Eikenstraat 655, Edegem, 2650, Belgium.
| | - Erika Vlieghe
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases, and Tropical Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, Drie Eikenstraat 655, Edegem, 2650, Belgium
- Global Health Institute, Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Nele Brusselaers
- Global Health Institute, Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Public Health & Primary Care, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Centre for Translational Microbiome Research, Department of Microbiology Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Patrick Soentjens
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases, and Tropical Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, Drie Eikenstraat 655, Edegem, 2650, Belgium
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Caroline Theunissen
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases, and Tropical Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, Drie Eikenstraat 655, Edegem, 2650, Belgium
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Isabel Brosius
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases, and Tropical Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, Drie Eikenstraat 655, Edegem, 2650, Belgium
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jeroen Grouwels
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases, and Tropical Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, Drie Eikenstraat 655, Edegem, 2650, Belgium
| | - Lida Van Petersen
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | - Walter Verbrugghe
- Department of Intensive Care, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
- Translational Research in Immunology and Inflammation, Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Philippe G Jorens
- Department of Intensive Care, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
- Translational Research in Immunology and Inflammation, Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Thérèse Lapperre
- Translational Research in Immunology and Inflammation, Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Pneumology, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
| | - Karen Peeters
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
| | - Griet Vermeulen
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
- Antwerp Surgical Training, Anatomy and Research Centre, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Sabrina H van Ierssel
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases, and Tropical Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, Drie Eikenstraat 655, Edegem, 2650, Belgium
- Global Health Institute, Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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Borgonovo F, Lovaglio PG, Mariani C, Berta P, Cossu MV, Rizzardini G, Vittadini G, Capetti AF. Analysis and clinical determinants of post-COVID-19 syndrome in the Lombardy region: evidence from a longitudinal cohort study. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e075185. [PMID: 38320835 PMCID: PMC10860093 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-075185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To define macro symptoms of long COVID and to identify predictive factors, with the aim of preventing the development of the long COVID syndrome. DESIGN A single-centre longitudinal prospective cohort study conducted from May 2020 to October 2022. SETTING The study was conducted at Luigi Sacco University Hospital in Milan (Italy). In May 2020, we activated the ARCOVID (Ambulatorio Rivalutazione COVID) outpatient service for the follow-up of long COVID. PARTICIPANTS Hospitalised and non-hospitalised patients previously affected by COVID-19 were either referred by specialists or general practitioners or self-referred. INTERVENTION During the first visit, a set of questions investigated the presence and the duration of 11 symptoms (palpitations, amnesia, headache, anxiety/panic, insomnia, loss of smell, loss of taste, dyspnoea, asthenia, myalgia and telogen effluvium). The follow-up has continued until the present time, by sending email questionnaires every 3 months to monitor symptoms and health-related quality of life. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES Measurement of synthetic scores (aggregation of symptoms based on occurrence and duration) that may reveal the presence of long COVID in different clinical macro symptoms. To this end, a mixed supervised and empirical strategy was adopted. Moreover, we aimed to identify predictive factors for post-COVID-19 macro symptoms. RESULTS In the first and second waves of COVID-19, 575 and 793 patients (respectively) were enrolled. Three different post-COVID-19 macro symptoms (neurological, sensorial and physical) were identified. We found significant associations between post-COVID-19 symptoms and (1) the patients' comorbidities, and (2) the medications used during the COVID-19 acute phase. ACE inhibitors (OR=2.039, 95% CI: 1.095 to 3.892), inhaled steroids (OR=4.08, 95% CI: 1.17 to 19.19) and COVID therapies were associated with increased incidence of the neurological macro symptoms. Age (OR=1.02, 95% CI: 1.01 to 1.04), COVID-19 severity (OR=0.42, 95% CI: 0.21 to 0.82), number of comorbidities (OR=1.22, 95% CI: 1.01 to 1.5), metabolic (OR=2.52, 95% CI: 1.25 to 5.27), pulmonary (OR=1.87, 95% CI: 1.10 to 3.32) and autoimmune diseases (OR=4.57, 95% CI: 1.57 to 19.41) increased the risk of the physical macro symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Being male was the unique protective factor in both waves. Other factors reflected different medical behaviours and the impact of comorbidities. Evidence of the effect of therapies adds valuable information that may drive future medical choices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Borgonovo
- Infectious Diseases, Luigi Sacco University Hospital, Milano, Italy
| | - Pietro Giorgio Lovaglio
- Interuniversity Research Centre on Public Services (CRISP), Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, University Bicocca-Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Mariani
- Infectious Diseases, Luigi Sacco University Hospital, Milano, Italy
| | - Paolo Berta
- Interuniversity Research Centre on Public Services (CRISP), Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, University Bicocca-Milan, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | - Giorgio Vittadini
- Interuniversity Research Centre on Public Services (CRISP), Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, University Bicocca-Milan, Milan, Italy
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Mannucci PM, Galbussera AA, D'Avanzo B, Tettamanti M, Remuzzi G, Fortino I, Leoni O, Harari S, Nobili A. Two years of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and COVID-19 in Lombardy, Italy. Intern Emerg Med 2023; 18:1445-1451. [PMID: 37314640 DOI: 10.1007/s11739-023-03315-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Lombardy, the largest and most densely populated Italian region, was severely hit in February 2020 by the first pandemic wave of SARS-CoV-2 and associated COVID-19. Since then, additional infection waves spread in the region. The aim of this study was to compare the first with the subsequent waves using the administrative database of the Lombardy Welfare directorate. In the time frames of the four 2020-2022 waves, the absolute number of infected cases, sites of management and crude mortality rate associated with SARS-CoV-2 positivity were extracted from the database. Infected cases progressively increased in the region by approximately 5-fold in the second versus the first wave, 4-fold in the third and 20-fold during the most recent wave mainly associated with the omicron variant. The crude death decreased from 18.7% in the first to 2% in the second and third wave to reach a 0.3% nadir at the time of the fourth wave. This study confirms that in Lombardy outcomes of public health and health-care relevance such as deaths and number of hospitalizations declined dramatically across the four virus waves and reached very low values in 2022 when, at variance with the first three SARS-CoV-2 waves, the majority of infected cases had been previously vaccinated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pier Mannuccio Mannucci
- Angelo Bianchi Bonomi Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessia Antonella Galbussera
- Department of Health Policy, Istituto Di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Via Mario Negri, 2, 20156, Milan, Italy
| | - Barbara D'Avanzo
- Department of Health Policy, Istituto Di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Via Mario Negri, 2, 20156, Milan, Italy
| | - Mauro Tettamanti
- Department of Health Policy, Istituto Di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Via Mario Negri, 2, 20156, Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Remuzzi
- Department of Health Policy, Istituto Di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Via Mario Negri, 2, 20156, Milan, Italy
| | - Ida Fortino
- Direzione Generale Welfare, Regione Lombardia, Milan, Italy
| | - Olivia Leoni
- Direzione Generale Welfare, Regione Lombardia, Milan, Italy
| | - Sergio Harari
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università Di Milano, Milan, Italy
- Division of Internal Medicine, Multimedica IRCSS, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Nobili
- Department of Health Policy, Istituto Di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Via Mario Negri, 2, 20156, Milan, Italy.
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Brogna B, Bignardi E, Megliola A, Laporta A, La Rocca A, Volpe M, Musto LA. A Pictorial Essay Describing the CT Imaging Features of COVID-19 Cases throughout the Pandemic with a Special Focus on Lung Manifestations and Extrapulmonary Vascular Abdominal Complications. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2113. [PMID: 37626610 PMCID: PMC10452395 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11082113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
With the Omicron wave, SARS-CoV-2 infections improved, with less lung involvement and few cases of severe manifestations. In this pictorial review, there is a summary of the pathogenesis with particular focus on the interaction of the immune system and gut and lung axis in both pulmonary and extrapulmonary manifestations of COVID-19 and the computed tomography (CT) imaging features of COVID-19 pneumonia from the beginning of the pandemic, describing the typical features of COVID-19 pneumonia following the Delta variant and the atypical features appearing during the Omicron wave. There is also an outline of the typical features of COVID-19 pneumonia in cases of breakthrough infection, including secondary lung complications such as acute respiratory distress disease (ARDS), pneumomediastinum, pneumothorax, and lung pulmonary thromboembolism, which were more frequent during the first waves of the pandemic. Finally, there is a description of vascular extrapulmonary complications, including both ischemic and hemorrhagic abdominal complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Brogna
- Department of Interventional and Emergency Radiology, San Giuseppe Moscati Hospital, 83100 Avellino, Italy; (A.L.); (A.L.R.); (L.A.M.)
| | - Elio Bignardi
- Department of Radiology, Francesco Ferrari Hospital, ASL Lecce, 73042 Casarano, Italy;
| | - Antonia Megliola
- Radiology Unit, “Frangipane” Hospital, ASL Avellino, 83031 Ariano Irpino, Italy; (A.M.); (M.V.)
| | - Antonietta Laporta
- Department of Interventional and Emergency Radiology, San Giuseppe Moscati Hospital, 83100 Avellino, Italy; (A.L.); (A.L.R.); (L.A.M.)
| | - Andrea La Rocca
- Department of Interventional and Emergency Radiology, San Giuseppe Moscati Hospital, 83100 Avellino, Italy; (A.L.); (A.L.R.); (L.A.M.)
| | - Mena Volpe
- Radiology Unit, “Frangipane” Hospital, ASL Avellino, 83031 Ariano Irpino, Italy; (A.M.); (M.V.)
| | - Lanfranco Aquilino Musto
- Department of Interventional and Emergency Radiology, San Giuseppe Moscati Hospital, 83100 Avellino, Italy; (A.L.); (A.L.R.); (L.A.M.)
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Opsteen S, Files JK, Fram T, Erdmann N. The role of immune activation and antigen persistence in acute and long COVID. J Investig Med 2023; 71:545-562. [PMID: 36879504 PMCID: PMC9996119 DOI: 10.1177/10815589231158041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
Abstract
In late 2019, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) triggered the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Although most infections cause a self-limited syndrome comparable to other upper respiratory viral pathogens, a portion of individuals develop severe illness leading to substantial morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, an estimated 10%-20% of SARS-CoV-2 infections are followed by post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC), or long COVID. Long COVID is associated with a wide variety of clinical manifestations including cardiopulmonary complications, persistent fatigue, and neurocognitive dysfunction. Severe acute COVID-19 is associated with hyperactivation and increased inflammation, which may be an underlying cause of long COVID in a subset of individuals. However, the immunologic mechanisms driving long COVID development are still under investigation. Early in the pandemic, our group and others observed immune dysregulation persisted into convalescence after acute COVID-19. We subsequently observed persistent immune dysregulation in a cohort of individuals experiencing long COVID. We demonstrated increased SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses and antibody affinity in patients experiencing long COVID symptoms. These data suggest a portion of long COVID symptoms may be due to chronic immune activation and the presence of persistent SARS-CoV-2 antigen. This review summarizes the COVID-19 literature to date detailing acute COVID-19 and convalescence and how these observations relate to the development of long COVID. In addition, we discuss recent findings in support of persistent antigen and the evidence that this phenomenon contributes to local and systemic inflammation and the heterogeneous nature of clinical manifestations seen in long COVID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Skye Opsteen
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Jacob K Files
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Tim Fram
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Nathan Erdmann
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
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Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients with Acute Respiratory Failure Due to SARS-CoV-2 Interstitial Pneumonia Treated with CPAP in a Medical Intermediate Care Setting: A Retrospective Observational Study on Comparison of Four Waves. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12041562. [PMID: 36836094 PMCID: PMC9959438 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12041562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In COVID-19 patients non-invasive-positive-pressure-ventilation (NIPPV) has held a challenging role to reduce mortality and the need for invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). The aim of this study was to compare the characteristics of patients admitted to a Medical Intermediate Care Unit for acute respiratory failure due to SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia throughout four pandemic waves. METHODS The clinical data of 300 COVID-19 patients treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) were retrospectively analysed, from March-2020 to April-2022. RESULTS Non-survivors were older and more comorbid, whereas patients transferred to ICU were younger and had fewer pathologies. Patients were older (from 65 (29-91) years in I wave to 77 (32-94) in IV, p < 0.001) and with more comorbidities (from Charlson's Comorbidity Index = 3 (0-12) in I to 6 (1-12) in IV, p < 0.001). No statistical difference was found for in-hospital mortality (33.0%, 35.8%, 29.6% and 45.9% in I, II, III and IV, p = 0.216), although ICU-transfers rate decreased from 22.0% to 1.4%. CONCLUSIONS COVID-19 patients have become progressively older and with more comorbidities even in critical care area; from risk class analyses by age and comorbidity burden, in-hospital mortality rates remain high and are thus consistent over four waves while ICU-transfers have significantly reduced. Epidemiological changes need to be considered to improve the appropriateness of care.
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Ticinesi A, Parise A, Nouvenne A, Cerundolo N, Prati B, Guerra A, Tuttolomondo D, Gaibazzi N, Meschi T. Insights from comparison of the clinical presentation and outcomes of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in an Italian internal medicine ward during first and third wave. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 10:1112728. [PMID: 36817786 PMCID: PMC9928966 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1112728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The reasons of variability of clinical presentation of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) across different pandemic waves are not fully understood, and may include individual risk profile, SARS-CoV-2 lineage and seasonal variations of viral spread. The objective of this retrospective study was to compare the characteristics and outcomes of patients admitted with confirmed coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) in the same season during the first (March 2020) and the third pandemic wave (March 2021, dominance of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 lineage) in an internal medicine ward of a large teaching hospital in Italy. Materials and methods Data of 769 unvaccinated patients (399 from the first and 370 from the third wave) were collected from clinical records, including symptom type and duration, extension of lung abnormalities on chest computed tomography (CT) and PaO2/FiO2 ratio on admission arterial blood gas analysis. Results Third wave patients were in average younger (median 65, interquartile range [IQR] 55-75, vs. 72, IQR 61-81 years old, p < 0.001), with less comorbidities and better pulmonary (CT visual score median 25, IQR 15-40, vs. 30, IQR 15-50, age- and sex-adjusted p = 0.017) and respiratory involvement (PaO2/FiO2 median 288, IQR 237-338, vs. 233, IQR 121-326 mmHg, age- and sex-adjusted p < 0.001) than first wave patients. Hospital mortality was lower (19% vs. 36%, p < 0.001), but not for subjects over 75 years old (46 vs. 49%). Age, number of chronic illnesses, PCT levels, CT visual score [Odds Ratio (OR) 1.022, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.009-1.036, p < 0.001] and PaO2/FiO2 (OR 0.991, 95% CI 0.988-0.994, p < 0.001), but not the pandemic wave, were associated with mortality on stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis. Conclusion Despite the higher virulence of B.1.1.7 lineage, we detected milder clinical presentation and improved mortality in patients hospitalized during the third COVID-19 wave, with involvement of younger subjects. The reasons of this discrepancy are unclear, but could involve the population effect of vaccination campaigns, that were being conducted primarily in older frail subjects during the third wave.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Ticinesi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy,Geriatric-Rehabilitation Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy,*Correspondence: Andrea Ticinesi, ✉
| | - Alberto Parise
- Geriatric-Rehabilitation Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Antonio Nouvenne
- Geriatric-Rehabilitation Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Cerundolo
- Geriatric-Rehabilitation Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Beatrice Prati
- Geriatric-Rehabilitation Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Angela Guerra
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy,Geriatric-Rehabilitation Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Domenico Tuttolomondo
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy,Cardiology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Nicola Gaibazzi
- Cardiology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Tiziana Meschi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy,Geriatric-Rehabilitation Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy
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Bertolotti M, Betti M, Giacchero F, Grasso C, Franceschetti G, Carotenuto M, Odone A, Pacileo G, Ferrante D, Maconi A. Long-Term Survival among Patients Hospitalized for COVID-19 during the First Three Epidemic Waves: An Observational Study in a Northern Italy Hospital. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:15298. [PMID: 36430015 PMCID: PMC9690296 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192215298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The mortality rate of hospitalized COVID-19 patients differed strongly between the first three pandemic waves. Nevertheless, their long-term survival has been poorly assessed. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical characteristics and mortality rates of 825 patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection who were hospitalized at the Alessandria hub hospital, in Northern Italy, during the first fifty days of the first three pandemic waves. Each subject was followed in terms of vital status for six months from the date of hospital admission or until deceased. Patients admitted during the three waves differed in age (p = 0.03), disease severity (p < 0.0001), Charlson comorbidity index (p = 0.0002), oxygen therapy (p = 0.002), and invasive mechanical ventilation (p < 0.0001). By the end of follow-up, 309 deaths (38.7%) were observed, of which 186 occurred during hub hospitalization (22.5%). Deaths were distributed differently among the waves (p < 0.0001), resulting in being higher amongst those subjects admitted during the first wave. The COVID-19 infection was reported as the main cause of death and patients with a higher mortality risk were those aged ≥65 years [adjusted HR = 3.40 (95% CI 2.20-5.24)], with a higher disease severity [adjusted HR = 1.87 (95%CI 1.43-2.45)], and those requiring oxygen therapy [adjusted HR = 2.30 (95%CI 1.61-3.30)]. In conclusion, COVID-19 patients admitted to our hub hospital during the second and the third waves had a lower risk of long-term mortality than those admitted during the first. Older age, more severe disease, and the need for oxygen therapy were among the strongest risk factors for poor prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marinella Bertolotti
- Research Training Innovation Infrastructure, Research and Innovation Department (DAIRI), Azienda Ospedaliera SS. Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, 15121 Alessandria, Italy
| | - Marta Betti
- Research Training Innovation Infrastructure, Research and Innovation Department (DAIRI), Azienda Ospedaliera SS. Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, 15121 Alessandria, Italy
| | - Fabio Giacchero
- Research Training Innovation Infrastructure, Research and Innovation Department (DAIRI), Azienda Ospedaliera SS. Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, 15121 Alessandria, Italy
| | - Chiara Grasso
- Research Training Innovation Infrastructure, Research and Innovation Department (DAIRI), Azienda Ospedaliera SS. Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, 15121 Alessandria, Italy
| | - Genny Franceschetti
- Medical Directorate, Azienda Ospedaliera SS. Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, 15121 Alessandria, Italy
- Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Margherita Carotenuto
- Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Anna Odone
- Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | | | - Daniela Ferrante
- Unit of Medical Statistics, Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale and Cancer Epidemiology Unit, CPO-Piemonte, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Antonio Maconi
- Research Training Innovation Infrastructure, Research and Innovation Department (DAIRI), Azienda Ospedaliera SS. Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, 15121 Alessandria, Italy
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