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

Giovanna Deiana, Antonio Azara, Marco Dettori, Fiorenzo Delogu, Gavino Vargiu, Isabella Gessa, Filippo Stroscio, Marcello Tidore, Giorgio Steri and Paolo Castiglia
Additional contact information
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

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 12, 1-10

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.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; lethality; underlying health conditions; Italy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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