SARS-COV-2 comorbidity network and outcome in hospitalized patients in Crema, Italy

PLoS One. 2021 Mar 25;16(3):e0248498. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248498. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

We report onset, course, correlations with comorbidities, and diagnostic accuracy of nasopharyngeal swab in 539 individuals suspected to carry SARS-COV-2 admitted to the hospital of Crema, Italy. All individuals underwent clinical and laboratory exams, SARS-COV-2 reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction on nasopharyngeal swab, and chest X-ray and/or computed tomography (CT). Data on onset, course, comorbidities, number of drugs including angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin-II-receptor antagonists (sartans), follow-up swab, pharmacological treatments, non-invasive respiratory support, ICU admission, and deaths were recorded. Among 411 SARS-COV-2 patients (67.7% males) median age was 70.8 years (range 5-99). Chest CT was performed in 317 (77.2%) and showed interstitial pneumonia in 304 (96%). Fatality rate was 17.5% (74% males), with 6.6% in 60-69 years old, 21.1% in 70-79 years old, 38.8% in 80-89 years old, and 83.3% above 90 years. No death occurred below 60 years. Non-invasive respiratory support rate was 27.2% and ICU admission 6.8%. Charlson comorbidity index and high C-reactive protein at admission were significantly associated with death. Use of ACE inhibitors or sartans was not associated with outcomes. Among 128 swab negative patients at admission (63.3% males) median age was 67.7 years (range 1-98). Chest CT was performed in 87 (68%) and showed interstitial pneumonia in 76 (87.3%). Follow-up swab turned positive in 13 of 32 patients. Using chest CT at admission as gold standard on the entire study population of 539 patients, nasopharyngeal swab had 80% accuracy. Comorbidity network analysis revealed a more homogenous distribution 60-40 aged SARS-COV-2 patients across diseases and a crucial different interplay of diseases in the networks of deceased and survived patients. SARS-CoV-2 caused high mortality among patients older than 60 years and correlated with pre-existing multiorgan impairment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • C-Reactive Protein / analysis
  • COVID-19 / mortality
  • COVID-19 / pathology*
  • COVID-19 / virology
  • COVID-19 Drug Treatment
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Comorbidity*
  • Female
  • Hospitalization / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Italy
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Risk Factors
  • SARS-CoV-2 / isolation & purification
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
  • C-Reactive Protein

Grants and funding

The Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, 952026 Humane-AI-Net, provided funding to GC. TG has been funded by the IMT project PAI (Progetto di Attività Integrata) 2018 “Chain the Brain: The Endophenotype of Serotonin Dysfunction in Violent Offenders and Psychopaths. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.