Clinical Characterization of the Three Waves of COVID-19 Occurring in Southern Italy: Results of a Multicenter Cohort Study

Mariantonietta Pisaturo, Antonio Russo, Viraj Pattapola, Roberta Astorri, Paolo Maggi, Fabio Giuliano Numis, Ivan Gentile, Vincenzo Sangiovanni, Annamaria Rossomando, Valeria Gentile, Giosuele Calabria, Raffaella Pisapia, Alessio Vinicio Codella, Alfonso Masullo, Valentina Iodice, Giancarlo Giolitto, Roberto Parrella, Giuseppina Dell’Aquila, Michele Gambardella, Felicia Di Perna and Nicola Coppola ()
Additional contact information
Mariantonietta Pisaturo: Infectious Diseases, Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, 80138 Napoli, Italy
Antonio Russo: Infectious Diseases, Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, 80138 Napoli, Italy
Viraj Pattapola: Infectious Diseases, Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, 80138 Napoli, Italy
Roberta Astorri: Infectious Diseases, Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, 80138 Napoli, Italy
Paolo Maggi: Infectious Diseases Unit, A.O. S Anna e S Sebastiano Caserta, 81100 Caserta, Italy
Fabio Giuliano Numis: Emergency Unit, PO Santa Maria delle Grazie, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
Ivan Gentile: Infectious Disease Unit, University Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy
Vincenzo Sangiovanni: Third Infectious Diseases Unit, AORN dei Colli, PO Cotugno, 80131 Naples, Italy
Annamaria Rossomando: IV Infectious Disease Unit, AORN dei Coli, PO Cotugno, 80131 Naples, Italy
Valeria Gentile: Hepatic Infectious Disease Unit, AORN dei Colli, PO Cotugno, 80131 Naples, Italy
Giosuele Calabria: IX Infectious Disease Unit, AORN dei Coli, PO Cotugno, 80131 Naples, Italy
Raffaella Pisapia: First Infectious Disease Unit, AORN dei Coli, PO Cotugno, 80131 Naples, Italy
Alessio Vinicio Codella: Infectious Diseease Unit, A.O. San Pio, PO Rummo, 82010 Benevento, Italy
Alfonso Masullo: Infectious Disease Unit, A.O. San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi D’Aragona, 84135 Salerno, Italy
Valentina Iodice: VIII Infectious Disease Unit, AORN dei Coli, PO Cotugno, 80131 Naples, Italy
Giancarlo Giolitto: Infectious Disease Unit, Ospedale Maria S.S. Addolorata di Eboli, ASL Salerno, 84025 Eboli, Italy
Roberto Parrella: Respiratory Infectious Diseases Unit, AORN dei Colli, PO Cotugno, 80131 Naples, Italy
Giuseppina Dell’Aquila: Infectious Diseases Unit, AO Avellino, 83100 Avellino, Italy
Michele Gambardella: Infectious Diseease Unit, PO S. Luca, Vallo della Lucania, ASL Salerno, 84078 Vallo della Lucania, Italy
Felicia Di Perna: Pneumology Unit, AORN Caserta, 81100 Caserta, Italy
Nicola Coppola: Infectious Diseases, Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, 80138 Napoli, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 23, 1-12

Abstract: Aims: To characterize patients hospitalized for COVID-19 in the three waves in Southern Italy. Methods: We conducted a multicenter observational cohort study involving seventeen COVID-19 Units in Campania, southern Italy: All adult (≥18 years) patients, hospitalized with a diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection from 28 February 2020 to 31 May 2021, were enrolled. Results: Two thousand and fifteen COVID-19 hospitalized patients were enrolled; 392 (19%) in the first wave, 917 (45%) in the second and 706 (35%) in the third wave. Patients showed a less severe clinical outcome in the first wave than in the second and third waves (73%, 65% and 72%, respectively; p = 0.003), but hospitalization expressed in days was longer in the first wave [Median (Q1–Q3): 17 (13–25) v.s. 14 (9–21) and 14 (9–19), respectively, p = 0.001)] and also mortality during hospitalization was higher in the first wave than in the second and third waves: 16.6% v.s. 11.3% and 6.5%, respectively ( p = 0.0001). Multivariate analysis showed that older age [OR: 1.069, CI (1046–1092); p = 0.001], a worse Charlson comorbidity index [OR: 1042, CI (1233–1594; p = 0.0001] and enrolment during the first-wave [OR: 1.917, CI (1.054–3.485; p = 0.033] were predictors of mortality in hospitalized patients. Conclusions: Improved organization of the healthcare facilities and the increase in knowledge of clinical and therapeutic management have contributed to a trend in the reduction in mortality during the three waves of COVID-19.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; pandemic waves; clinical outcome; mortality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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