SARS-CoV2 Infection and Comorbidity in Inmates: A Study of Central Italy

Emma Altobelli (), Francesca Galassi, Marianna Mastrodomenico, Fausto Frabotta, Francesca Marzi, Anna Maria Angelone and Ciro Marziliano
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Emma Altobelli: Department of Life, Public Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
Francesca Galassi: Department of Life, Public Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
Marianna Mastrodomenico: Public Health Unit, Avezzano-Sulmona-L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
Fausto Frabotta: Public Health Unit, Avezzano-Sulmona-L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
Francesca Marzi: Department of Information Engineering, Computer Science and Mathematics University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
Anna Maria Angelone: Department of Life, Public Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
Ciro Marziliano: Statistical Observatory and Indicator Monitoring, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 4, 1-8

Abstract: Background and Objective: The presence of multiple chronic diseases is associated with an increase in mortality when related to COVID-19 infection. The aims of our study were: (i) to evaluate the association between the severity of the COVID-19 disease, defined as symptomatic hospitalized in prison or symptomatic hospitalized out of prison, and the presence of one or more comorbidities in two prisons in central Italy: L’Aquila and Sulmona; (ii) to describe the profiles of inmates using multiple correspondence analysis (MCA). Methods: A database was created including age, gender and clinical variables. The database containing anonymized data was password-protected. The Kruskal–Wallis test was used to evaluate a possible association between diseases and the severity of COVID-19 stratified by age groups. We used MCA to describe a possible characteristic profile of inmates. Results: Our results show that in the 25–50-year-old age group (COVID-19-negative) in the L’Aquila prison, 19/62 (30.65%) were without comorbidity, 17/62 (27.42%) had 1–2 comorbidities and only 3.23% had >2 diseases. It is interesting to note that in the elderly group, the frequency of 1–2 or >2 pathologies was higher than in the younger group, and only 3/51 (5.88%) inmates did not have comorbidities and were COVID-19 negative ( p = 0.008). The MCA identified the following profiles: the prison of L’Aquila showed a group of women over 60 with diabetes, cardiovascular and orthopedic problems, and hospitalized for COVID-19; the Sulmona prison presented a group of males over 60 with diabetes, cardiovascular, respiratory, urological, gastrointestinal and orthopedic problems, and hospitalized or symptomatic due to COVID-19. Conclusions: our study has demonstrated and confirmed that advanced age and the presence of concomitant pathologies have played a significant role in the severity of the disease: symptomatic hospitalized in the prison; symptomatic hospitalized out of the prison.

Keywords: prison; inmate; COVID-19; comorbidity; multiple correspondence analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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