scholarly journals The age structure of cases as the key of COVID-19 severity: Longitudinal population-based analysis of European countries during 150 days

2021 ◽  
pp. 140349482110424
Author(s):  
Klára Hulíková Tesárková ◽  
Dagmar Dzúrová
Keyword(s):  
Time Delay ◽  
Age Structure ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Population Based ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Fatality Rate ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Cross Country ◽  
The Impact

Aims: Over a million confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) across 16 European countries were observed during the first wave of the pandemic. Epidemiological measures like the case fatality rate (CFR) are generally used to determine the severity of the illness. The aim is to investigate the impact of the age structure of reported cases on the reported CFR and possibilities of its demographic adjustment for a better cross-country comparison (age-standardized CFRs, time delay between cases detection and death). Methods: This longitudinal study uses prospective, population-based data covering 150 days, starting on the day of confirmation of the 100th case in each country. COVerAGE-DB and the Human Mortality Database were used in this regard. The age-standardized CFRs were calculated with and without the time delay of the number of deaths after the confirmation of the cases. Results: The observed decline in the CFRs at the end of the first wave is partly given by the changes in the age structure of confirmed cases. Using the adjusted (age-standardized) CFRs with time delay, the risk of death among confirmed cases is much more stable in comparison to crude (observed) CFRs. Conclusions: Preventing the spread of COVID-19 among the elderly is an important way to positively influence the overall fatality rate, decrease the number of deaths, and not overload the health systems. The crude CFRs (still often presented) are not sufficient for a proper evaluation of the development across populations nor as a means of identifying the influencing factors.

scholarly journals Mortality among the early cases of COVID-19 and its association with key comorbidities in a large state in South India

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (10) ◽  
pp. 3882
Author(s):  
Suhas Bhat ◽  
Rohan Kolla ◽  
Shashank D. Shindhe ◽  
Surekha B. Munoli
Keyword(s):  
Case Fatality Rate ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Median Number ◽  
Fatality Rate ◽  
Study Region ◽  
Large State ◽  
Death Time ◽  
The Impact

Background: The mortality associated with the pandemic COVID-19 is a subject of intense scrutiny as COVID-19 can cause severe disease leading to hospitalization in ICU and potentially death, especially in the elderly with comorbidities. A statistical analysis is carried out to study the impact of age, gender and comorbidities on deaths among early one lakh infected population of Karnataka, a large state in south India.Methods: Daily case fatality rate and adjusted case fatality rate (CFR) (adjusted to median death time) are estimated. The impacts of age, gender and comorbidities on mortality outcomes of COVID patients are studied.Results: The daily CFR on 27th July for Karnataka is estimated from the dataset to be 1.93%. However, the adjusted CFR based on the median number of days from diagnosis to death was found to be 2.15% (95% confidence interval 2%-2.3%) on that day. The deaths among male patients outnumber those in females. As far as age of the patients is concerned, more than 50% of the deaths occurred in the age group 50-60 and 60-70 years. Majority of deaths reported in the state were associated with at least one of the comorbidity. Diabetes mellitus and hypertension were the most significant comorbidities.Conclusions: The daily adjusted CFR for the study region is found to be lower than the CFR of the whole nation. Also the age, gender and comorbidities were found to be associated with the deaths as opposed to the infection alone. It was also deduced that, patients with a history of diabetes or hypertension or ischemic heart disease or a combination of any of these were most likely to experience severe outcomes of the infection. 

scholarly journals Population age structure only partially explains the large number of COVID-19 deaths at the oldest ages

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Medford ◽  
Sergi Trias-Llimós
Keyword(s):  
Old Age ◽  
Age Structure ◽  
Age Distribution ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Population Age Structure ◽  
Country Comparison ◽  
Cross Country ◽  
Age Structures

AbstractTo date any attention paid to the age shape of COVID-19 deaths has been mostly in relation to attempts to understand the differences in case fatality rates between countries. The aim of this paper is to explore differences in age distribution of deaths from COVID-19 among European countries which have old age structures. We do this by way of a cross-country comparison and put forward some reasons for potential differences.

scholarly journals The Impact of COVID-19 on Radiation Oncology and Cancer Care: A Perspective from the Cancer Belt Region of India

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (02) ◽  
pp. 47-52
Author(s):  
Sapna Marcus ◽  
Rohit Mahajan
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Radiation Oncology ◽  
Case Fatality Rate ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
Multimodality Treatment ◽  
Respiratory Illness ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Fatality Rate ◽  
The Impact

AbstractA pandemic coronavirus, termed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), causes a respiratory illness called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that is often severe or life threatening. Considering the low immunity status of cancer patients due to multimodality treatment, they seem to be more prone to COVID-19. Given the rapidity with which the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is spreading, we can expect an increased burden of cancer patients diagnosed with COVID-19 at oncology treatment clinics and a need to address the issues associated. As of the date of this writing, United States has been witnessing an increase in confirmed cases, not far behind are the large outbreaks of European countries. Patients with cancer may have compromised immunity due to their disease or its ongoing treatment, and early reports suggest cancer is a risk factor for severe COVID-19. Since the outbreak in Wuhan, Chinese researchers have published on their experience with COVID-19 and have highlighted high-risk groups, including the elderly and patients with comorbidities, including cancer. In one of the largest series reported from Wuhan, elderly patients were at a higher risk for disease severity with an 8.0% case fatality rate in those aged between 70 and 79 years, and 14.8% in those aged 80 years and older. The case fatality rate for cancer patients in that cohort was notably higher than noncancer patients at 5.6 versus 2.1% in the whole sample. This review focuses on the pandemic-driven strategies that need to be adopted to overcome the radiation oncology clinics burden, especially in this region of India popularly termed as the cancer belt. Although colleagues around the world have dealt with enormous service pressures in the face of natural disaster or infection previously, the global scale and challenge of COVID-19 are unprecedented. Our aim is to highlight the quintessential point that even within these circumstances the morbidity and mortality associated with cancer should not be taken lightly. Departmental protocols should be regularly upgraded to provide smooth and efficient functioning of the department.

scholarly journals Population age structure only partially explains the large number of COVID-19 deaths at the oldest ages

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Medford ◽  
Sergi Trias-Llimós
Keyword(s):  
Old Age ◽  
Age Structure ◽  
Age Distribution ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Population Age Structure ◽  
Country Comparison ◽  
Cross Country ◽  
Age Structures

To date any attention paid to the age shape of COVID-19 deaths has been mostly in relation to attempts to understand the differences in case fatality rates between countries. The aim of this paper is to explore differences in age distribution of deaths from COVID-19 among European countries which have old age structures. We do this by way of a cross-country comparison and put forward some reasons for potential differences.

Impact of hydroxychloroquin/azithromycin protocol on COVID-19 case-fatality rate reduction in Algeria. (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Youssef Kada
Keyword(s):  
Case Fatality Rate ◽  
Doubling Time ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
World Health ◽  
Fatality Rate ◽  
Therapeutic Protocol ◽  
First Case ◽  
The World ◽  
The Impact ◽  
At Home

BACKGROUND Covid-19 is an emerging infectious disease like viral zoonosis caused by new coronavirus SARS CoV 2. On December 31, 2019, Wuhan Municipal Health Commission in Hubei province (China) reported cases of pneumonia, the origin of which is a new coronavirus. Rapidly extendable around the world, the World Health Organization (WHO) declares it pandemic on March 11, 2020. This pandemic reaches Algeria on February 25, 2020, date on which the Algerian minister of health, announced the first case of Covid-19, a foreign citizen. From March 1, a cluster is formed in Blida and becomes the epicentre of the coronavirus epidemic in Algeria, its total quarantine is established on March 24, 2020, it will be smoothly alleviated on April 24. A therapeutic protocol based on hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin was put in place on March 23, for complicated cases, it was extended to all the cases confirmed on April 06. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquin/azithromycin protocol in Algeria, in particular after its extension to all patients diagnosed COVID-19 positive on RT-PCR test. We were able to illustrate this fact graphically, but not to prove it statistically because the design of our study, indeed in the 7 days which followed generalization of therapeutic protocol, case fatality rate decrease and doubling time increase, thus confirming the impact of wide and early prescription of hydroxychloroquin/azithromycin protocol. METHODS We have analyzed the data collected from press releases and follow-ups published daily by the Ministry of Health, we have studied the possible correlations of these data with certain events or decisions having a possible impact on their development, such as confinement at home and its reduction, the prescription of hydroxychloroquine/azithromycin combination for serious patients and its extension to all positive COVID subjects. Results are presented in graphics, the data collection was closed on 31/05/2020. RESULTS Covid-19 pandemic spreads from February 25, 2020, when a foreign citizen is tested positive, on March 1 a cluster is formed in the city of Blida where sixteen members of the same family are infected during a wedding party. Wilaya of Blida becomes the epicentre of coronavirus epidemic in Algeria and lockdown measures taken, while the number of national cases diagnosed begins to increases In any event, the association of early containment measures combined with a generalized initial treatment for all positive cases, whatever their degree of severity, will have contributed to a reduction in the fatality rate of COVID 19 and a slowing down of its doubling time. CONCLUSIONS In Algeria, the rapid combination of rigorous containment measure at home and early generalized treatment with hydroxychloroquin have demonstrated their effectiveness in terms of morbidity and mortality, the classic measures of social distancing and hygiene will make it possible to perpetuate these results by reducing viral transmission, the only unknown, the reopening procedure which can only be started after being surrounded by precautions aimed at ensuring the understanding of the population. CLINICALTRIAL Algeria, Covid-19, pandemic, hydroxychloroquin, azithromycin, case fatality rate

scholarly journals COVID-19 in comparison with other emerging viral diseases: risk of geographic spread via travel

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Wilder-Smith
Keyword(s):  
Reproduction Number ◽  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Air Travel ◽  
Viral Diseases ◽  
Fatality Rate ◽  
The Past ◽  
Geographic Spread ◽  
Emerging Viral Diseases

Abstract Purpose of review The COVID-19 pandemic poses a major global health threat. The rapid spread was facilitated by air travel although rigorous travel bans and lockdowns were able to slow down the spread. How does COVID-19 compare with other emerging viral diseases of the past two decades? Recent findings Viral outbreaks differ in many ways, such as the individuals most at risk e.g. pregnant women for Zika and the elderly for COVID-19, their vectors of transmission, their fatality rate, and their transmissibility often measured as basic reproduction number. The risk of geographic spread via air travel differs significantly between emerging infectious diseases. Summary COVID-19 is not associated with the highest case fatality rate compared with other emerging viral diseases such as SARS and Ebola, but the combination of a high reproduction number, superspreading events and a globally immunologically naïve population has led to the highest global number of deaths in the past 20 decade compared to any other pandemic.

scholarly journals Characterizing a two-pronged epidemic in Mexico of non-communicable diseases and SARS-Cov-2: factors associated with increased case-fatality rates

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Monterrubio-Flores ◽  
María D Ramírez-Villalobos ◽  
Juan Espinosa-Montero ◽  
Bernardo Hernandez ◽  
Simón Barquera ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Case Fatality ◽  
Logistic Models ◽  
Communicable Diseases ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Fatality Rate ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Non Communicable Diseases ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Mexican Adults

Abstract Background People with a previous diagnosis of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are more likely to develop serious forms of COVID-19 or die. Mexico is the country with the fourth highest fatality rate from SARS-Cov-2, with high mortality in younger adults. Objectives To describe and characterize the association of NCDs with the case-fatality rate (CFR) adjusted by age and sex in Mexican adults with a positive diagnosis for SARS-Cov-2. Methods We studied Mexican adults aged ≥20 years who tested positive for SARS-Cov-2 during the period from 28 February to 31 July 2020. The CFR was calculated and associations with history of NCDs (number of diseases and combinations), severity indicators and type of institution that treated the patient were explored. The relative risk (RR) of death was estimated using Poisson models and CFR was adjusted using logistic models. Results We analysed 406 966 SARS-Cov-2-positive adults. The CFR was 11.2% (13.7% in men and 8.4% in women). The CFR was positively associated with age and number of NCDs (p trend <0.001). The number of NCDs increased the risk of death in younger adults when they presented three or more NCDs compared with those who did not have any NCDs [RR, 46.6; 95% confidence interval (CI), 28.2, 76.9 for women; RR, 16.5; 95% CI, 9.9, 27.3 for men]. Lastly, there was great heterogeneity in the CFR by institution, from 4.6% in private institutions to 18.9% in public institutions. Conclusion In younger adults, higher CFRs were associated with the total number of NCDs and some combinations of type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cardiovascular disease.

scholarly journals Estimates and Determinants of SARS-Cov-2 Seroprevalence and Infection Fatality Ratio Using Latent Class Analysis: The Population-Based Tirschenreuth Study in the Hardest-Hit German County in Spring 2020

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1118
Author(s):  
Ralf Wagner ◽  
David Peterhoff ◽  
Stephanie Beileke ◽  
Felix Günther ◽  
Melanie Berr ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Latent Class Analysis ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
Care Home ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Class Analysis ◽  
Population Based Study ◽  
Targeted Testing ◽  
June July

SARS-CoV-2 infection fatality ratios (IFR) remain controversially discussed with implications for political measures. The German county of Tirschenreuth suffered a severe SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in spring 2020, with particularly high case fatality ratio (CFR). To estimate seroprevalence, underreported infections, and IFR for the Tirschenreuth population aged ≥14 years in June/July 2020, we conducted a population-based study including home visits for the elderly, and analyzed 4203 participants for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies via three antibody tests. Latent class analysis yielded 8.6% standardized county-wide seroprevalence, a factor of underreported infections of 5.0, and 2.5% overall IFR. Seroprevalence was two-fold higher among medical workers and one third among current smokers with similar proportions of registered infections. While seroprevalence did not show an age-trend, the factor of underreported infections was 12.2 in the young versus 1.7 for ≥85-year-old. Age-specific IFRs were <0.5% below 60 years of age, 1.0% for age 60–69, and 13.2% for age 70+. Senior care homes accounted for 45% of COVID-19-related deaths, reflected by an IFR of 7.5% among individuals aged 70+ and an overall IFR of 1.4% when excluding senior care home residents from our computation. Our data underscore senior care home infections as key determinant of IFR additionally to age, insufficient targeted testing in the young, and the need for further investigations on behavioral or molecular causes of the fewer infections among current smokers.

scholarly journals Meta-analysis and metaregression of risk factors associated with mortality in hip fracture patients during the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Firas J. Raheman ◽  
Djamila M. Rojoa ◽  
Jvalant Nayan Parekh ◽  
Reshid Berber ◽  
Robert Ashford
Keyword(s):  
Hip Fracture ◽  
Hip Fractures ◽  
Case Fatality Rate ◽  
Excess Mortality ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
Pooled Analysis ◽  
Fatality Rate ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The Impact

AbstractIncidence of hip fractures has remained unchanged during the pandemic with overlapping vulnerabilities observed in patients with hip fractures and those infected with COVID-19. We aimed to investigate the independent impact of COVID-19 infection on the mortality of these patients. Healthcare databases were systematically searched over 2-weeks from 1st–14th November 2020 to identify eligible studies assessing the impact of COVID-19 on hip fracture patients. Meta-analysis of proportion was performed to obtain pooled values of prevalence, incidence and case fatality rate of hip fracture patients with COVID-19 infection. 30-day mortality, excess mortality and all-cause mortality were analysed using a mixed-effects model. 22 studies reporting 4015 patients were identified out of which 2651 (66%) were assessed during the pandemic. An excess mortality of 10% was seen for hip fractures treated during the pandemic (OR 2.00, p = 0.007), in comparison to the pre-pandemic controls (5%). Estimated mortality of COVID-19 positive hip fracture patients was four-fold (RR 4.59, p < 0.0001) and 30-day mortality was 38.0% (HR 4.73, p < 0.0001). The case fatality rate for COVID-19 positive patients was 34.74%. Between-study heterogeneity for the pooled analysis was minimal (I2 = 0.00) whereas, random effects metaregression identified subgroup heterogeneity for male gender (p < 0.001), diabetes (p = 0.002), dementia (p = 0.001) and extracapsular fractures (p = 0.01) increased risk of mortality in COVID-19 positive patients.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Healthcare Planning: Predicting Mortality and the Role of the Herd Immunity Barrier in the General Population

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (13) ◽  
pp. 5228
Author(s):  
Julio Emilio Marco-Franco ◽  
Natividad Guadalajara-Olmeda ◽  
Silvia González-de Julián ◽  
David Vivas-Consuelo
Keyword(s):  
General Population ◽  
Case Fatality Rate ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Herd Immunity ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
Fatality Rate ◽  
Daily Monitoring ◽  
Age Related ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Carlos Iii

Using a mathematical model for COVID-19 incorporating data on excess of mortality compared to the corresponding period of the previous year obtained from the daily monitoring of mortality in Spain (MoMo), the prediction of total number of casualties in Spain for the first outbreak has been computed. From this figure, and following a stepwise meta-analysis of available reports, the case fatality rate (CFR) and the infectious case fatality rate (IFR) for the outbreak have been estimated. As the impact of age on these rates is notable, it is proposed to include an age-related adjusted fatality ratio in future comparative analyses between studies, calculated by adjusting the results by risk ratio to a reference age band (e.g., 60–69). From the casualty figures, and the corresponding CFR and IFR ratios, the forecast of serologically positive cases in the general Spanish population has been estimated at approximately 1% (0.87–1.3%) of the samples. If the data are confirmed by the ongoing study of the Carlos III Institute, until a vaccine is found, the immunity acquired in the general population after the infectious outbreak is far from the 65–70% herd immunity required as a barrier for COVID-19.

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