BACKGROUND: Concern is growing about the negative consequences that response measures to the COVID-19 epidemic may have on the management of other medical conditions. METHODS: A retrospective descriptive case-series study conducted at a large University-hospital in northern Italy, an area severely hit by the epidemic. RESULTS: Between 23 February and 14 May 2020, 4160 (52%) COVID-19 and 3778 (48%) non-COVID-19 patients were hospitalized. COVID-19 admissions peaked in the second half of March, a period characterized by an extremely high mortality rate (27.4%). The number of admissions in 2020 was similar to 2019, but COVID-19 patients gradually occupied all available beds. Comparison between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 admissions in 2020 revealed significant differences concerning all age classes and gender. Specifically, COVID-19 patients were older, predominantly male, and exhibited more comorbidities. Overall, admissions for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in 2020 vs. 2019 dropped by approximately one third. Statistically significant reductions were observed for acute myocardial infarction (-78, -33.9%), cerebrovascular disease (-235, -41.5%), and cancer (-368, -31.9%). While the first two appeared equally distributed between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients, chronic NCDs were statistically significantly more frequent in the former, except cancer, which was less frequent in COVID-19 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Prevention of collateral damage to patients with other diseases should be an integral part of epidemic response plans. Prospective cohort studies are needed to understand the long-term impact.
BACKGROUND: Concern is growing about the negative consequences that response measures to the COVID-19 epidemic may have on the management of other medical conditions. METHODS: A retrospective descriptive case-series study conducted at a large University-hospital in northern Italy, an area severely hit by the epidemic. RESULTS: Between 23 February and 14 May 2020, 4160 (52%) COVID-19 and 3778 (48%) non-COVID-19patients were hospitalized. COVID-19 admissions peaked in the second half of March, a period characterized by an extremely high mortality rate (27.4%). The number of admissions in 2020 was similar to 2019, but COVID-19patients gradually occupied all available beds. Comparison between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 admissions in 2020 revealed significant differences concerning all age classes and gender. Specifically, COVID-19patients were older, predominantly male, and exhibited more comorbidities. Overall, admissions for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in 2020 vs. 2019 dropped by approximately one third. Statistically significant reductions were observed for acute myocardial infarction (-78, -33.9%), cerebrovascular disease (-235, -41.5%), and cancer (-368, -31.9%). While the first two appeared equally distributed between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19patients, chronic NCDs were statistically significantly more frequent in the former, except cancer, which was less frequent in COVID-19patients. CONCLUSIONS: Prevention of collateral damage to patients with other diseases should be an integral part of epidemic response plans. Prospective cohort studies are needed to understand the long-term impact.
Authors: Giuseppe Stirparo; Lorenzo Bellini; Giuseppe Ristagno; Rodolfo Bonora; Andrea Pagliosa; Maurizio Migliari; Aida Andreassi; Carlo Signorelli; Giuseppe M Sechi; Nazzareno Fagoni Journal: J Clin Med Date: 2022-09-27 Impact factor: 4.964
Authors: Catherine Pécout; Emilie Pain; Michael Chekroun; Claire Champeix; Claudie Kulak; Rita Prieto; Joris van Vugt; Kim Gilchrist; Anne-Félice Lainé-Pellet Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-06-22 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Valeria Russini; Carlo Corradini; Maria Laura De Marchis; Tatiana Bogdanova; Sarah Lovari; Paola De Santis; Giuseppina Migliore; Stefano Bilei; Teresa Bossù Journal: Toxins (Basel) Date: 2022-01-05 Impact factor: 4.546