COVID-19 infection rate and mortality in a local health authority in Italy: Differences between home-dwelling and residential older adults

• Main Authors: Stefano Orlando (Author), Carolina de Santo (Author), Claudia Mosconi (Author), Francesca Di Gaspare (Author), Pelagia Chatzichristou (Author), Leonardo Emberti Gialloreti (Author), Fausto Ciccacci (Author), Laura Morciano (Author), Donatella Varrenti (Author), Giuseppe Liotta (Author), Leonardo Palombi (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Elsevier, 2023-12-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

Objectives: The health emergency following the COVID-19 pandemic has seen hospital structures collapse and put in crisis nursing homes and other long-term care facilities worldwide. Our study aims to analyze and comparing the data relating to the infection rate and mortality for COVID-19 in the elderly over 75 living in the long-term care facilities and in the home-dwelling population. Study design: The study adopts a retrospective cohort design and was conducted in Italy, in the Lazio region, in the area of the Local Health Authority (LHA) named "Azienda Sanitaria Locale Roma 6". Methods: Data were extracted from the COVID-19 surveillance system of the Lazio region. The primary outcome is the SARS-CoV-2 incidence rate in the period between 1st September 2020 and 31st May 2021. The secondary outcome is the mortality rate. Results: Living in a residential versus a home-dwelling setting was associated with a higher infection rate (OR 5.03, CI 4.67-5.43; p < 0.001). The mortality rate was higher for individuals living in a residential setting (19.3 %, CI 17.1%-21.7 %) than those living at home (13.0 %, CI 11.7%-14.5 %). Conclusions: These findings confirm the high mortality in Long-Term Care Facilities and provide new information on the infection rate. The containment measures adopted in the Long-Term Care Facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic, show limited correlation with reduced risk of contagion, but could have created unintended harm for the residents by increasing the social isolation and all other causes of mortality.

Item Description

2666-5352
10.1016/j.puhip.2023.100448