Mortality trend of ischemic heart disease (2008-2022): A retrospective analysis of epidemiological data.

Background: Age-sex specific trend analyses of ischemic heart disease (IHD)-related mortality and prevalent risk factors can improve our understanding and approach to the disease.

Methods: We performed a 15-year retrospective epidemiological analysis of acute and chronic IHD-related mortality and prevalent cardiovascular risk factors using administrative data from Veneto, a socio-economically homogeneous Italian region. Standard mortality statistics using the underlying cause of death (UCOD) and deaths with any mention of IHD in death certificates (MCOD) from ICD-10 codes I20-I25 was performed between 2008 and 2022.

The incidence and risk factors of selected drug prescriptions and outpatient care after SARS-CoV-2 infection in low-risk subjects: a multicenter population-based cohort study.

Background: Knowledge about the dynamics of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and the clinical aspects of COVID-19 has steadily increased over time, although evidence of the determinants of disease severity and duration is still limited and mainly focused on older adult and fragile populations.

Methods: The present study was conceived and carried out in the Emilia-Romagna (E-R) and Veneto Regions, Italy, within the context of the EU's Horizon 2020 research project called ORCHESTRA (Connecting European Cohorts to increase common and effective response to SARS-CoV-2 pandemic) (www.orchestra-cohort.

Excess diabetes-related deaths: The role of comorbidities through different phases of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background And Aims: Diabetes confers an excess risk of death to COVID-19 patients. Causes of death are now available for different phases of the pandemic, encompassing different viral variants and COVID-19 vaccination. The aims of the present study were to update multiple causes of death data on diabetes-related mortality during the pandemic and to estimate the impact of common diabetic comorbidities on excess mortality.

Association of multiple-sclerosis-related mortality with COVID-19 and other common infections: a multiple causes of death analysis.

Background And Purpose: People with multiple sclerosis (MS) suffer from higher infection-related mortality compared to the general population; however, sparse data are available on the increased risk of death associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and other common types of infections.

Methods: All mortality records and multiple-cause-of-death data in 2010-2021 of residents in the Veneto region (northeastern Italy) were extracted. Mention of specific infections was compared between death certificates reporting MS or not.

Estimating Overall and Cause-Specific Excess Mortality during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Methodological Approaches Compared.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, excess mortality has been reported worldwide, but its magnitude has varied depending on methodological differences that hinder between-study comparability. Our aim was to estimate variability attributable to different methods, focusing on specific causes of death with different pre-pandemic trends. Monthly mortality figures observed in 2020 in the Veneto Region (Italy) were compared with those forecasted using: (1) 2018-2019 monthly average number of deaths; (2) 2015-2019 monthly average age-standardized mortality rates; (3) Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (SARIMA) models; (4) Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) models.

Veneto Region dementia-related mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic: multiple causes of death and time series analysis.

Background: Older individuals with dementia have been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a lack of in-depth evaluation of mortality trends using both the underlying cause of death (UCOD) and the multiple causes of death (MCOD) approaches. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on dementia-related deaths considering comorbidities and the place of death.

Mortality rate related to peripheral arterial disease: A retrospective analysis of epidemiological data (years 2008-2019).

Background And Aims: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is one of the most prevalent cardiovascular diseases with more than 230 million people being affected worldwide. As highlighted by the recent European Society of Cardiology guidelines, data on the epidemiology of PAD is urgently needed.

Methods And Results: We accessed the vital registration data of the Veneto region (Northern Italy, approximately five millions inhabitants) covering the period 2008-2019.

Diabetes as a cause of death across different COVID-19 epidemic waves.

Aims: The aim of this study is to assess the role of diabetes as a cause of death through different epidemic waves of COVID-19.

Methods: The annual percentage change in age-standardized rates (APC) was estimated for diabetes as the underlying (UCOD) and as multiple causes of death (MCOD) in 2008-2019. Diabetes-related deaths in 2020 were compared to the 2018-2019 average.

Parkinson's disease related mortality: Long-term trends and impact of COVID-19 pandemic waves.

Introduction: Parkinson's disease (PD) mortality burden is increasing worldwide, but accurate estimates on the magnitude of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic are missing. Mortality rates vary largely when considering PD as underlying cause of death (UCOD), or as one among multiple causes reported in death certificates (MCOD). The aim of this study is to assess COVID-19 impact on PD-related mortality trends using the UCOD and MCOD approach.

Deaths related to pulmonary embolism and cardiovascular events before and during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic: An epidemiological analysis of data from an Italian high-risk area.

Background: Pulmonary embolism is a known complication of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Epidemiological population data focusing on pulmonary embolism-related mortality is limited.

Methods: Veneto is a region in Northern Italy counting 4,879,133 inhabitants in 2020.

Splanchnic vein thrombosis-related mortality in the Veneto region (Italy), 2008-2019: Retrospective analysis of epidemiological data.

Background: Splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT) is an uncommon manifestation of venous thromboembolism. Epidemiological data on SVT-related mortality rate is not available to date.

Methods: We investigated time trends in SVT-related mortality rate, 2008-2019, in Veneto, an Italian high-income region of approximatively 5,000,000 inhabitants.

SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 in diabetes mellitus. Population-based study on ascertained infections, hospital admissions and mortality in an Italian region with ∼5 million inhabitants and ∼250,000 diabetic people.

Background And Aims: Diabetes conveys an increased risk of infectious diseases and related mortality. We investigated risk of ascertained SARS-CoV-2 infection in diabetes subjects from the Veneto Region, Northeastern Italy, as well as the risk of being admitted to hospital or intensive care unit (ICU), or mortality for COVID-19.

Methods And Results: Diabetic subjects were identified by linkage of multiple health archives.

Mortality Associated with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis in Northeastern Italy, 2008-2020: A Multiple Cause of Death Analysis.

Mortality from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is increasing in most European countries, but there are no data for Italy. We analysed the registry data from a region in northeastern Italy to assess the trends in IPF-related mortality during 2008-2019, to compare results of underlying vs. multiple cause of death analyses, and to describe the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic in 2020.

Decline in Overall Pulmonary Embolism-Related Mortality and Increasing Prevalence of Cancer-Associated Events in the Veneto Region (Italy), 2008-2019.

Background: Despite evidence of ongoing epidemiological changes in deaths from venous thromboembolism in high-income countries, little recent information is available on the time trends in mortality related to pulmonary embolism (PE) as underlying or concomitant cause of death in Europe.

Methods: We accessed the regional database of death certificates of Veneto Region (Northern Italy, population 4,900,000) from 2008 to 2019. We analyzed the trends in crude and age-adjusted annual rates of mortality related to PE (reported either as underlying cause or in any position in the death certificate) using Joinpoint regression; in the contribution of PE to mortality (proportionate mortality); and, using logistic regression, in the association between PE and cancer at death.

Congestive heart failure and comorbidity as determinants of colorectal cancer perioperative outcomes.

There has been an increase in surgical interventions in frailer elderly with concomitant chronic diseases. The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the impact of aging and comorbidities on outcomes in patients who underwent surgery for the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) in Veneto Region (Northeastern Italy). This is a retrospective cohort study in patients ≥ 40 years who underwent elective or urgent CRC surgical resection between January 2013 and December 2015.

Causes of mortality in a large population-based cohort of psychiatric patients in Southern Europe.

The World Health Organization considers excess morbidity and mortality among people with mental disorders as a high public health priority. This study aims to estimate the mortality risk and causes of death among a large population-based cohort of psychiatric patients. All residents in Veneto (Northeastern Italy) aged between 18 and 84 years with a contact with Community Mental Health Centers in 2008 and a psychiatric diagnosis (n = 54,350) were followed-up for 10 years.

Intravescical instillation of Calmette-Guérin bacillus and COVID-19 risk.

It has been theorized that Calmette-Guérin bacillus may prevent or reduce the severity of COVID-19 through a nonspecific stimulation of the immune system. A preliminary assessment of SARS-CoV-2 infection rates and outcomes among 2803 individuals affected with high risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer and treated with intra-bladder instillation of BCG, showed no evidence of a protective effect. However, the interpretation of these data need some caution, due to the low prevalence of infection (<1%) observed within this population, along with the fact that intra-bladder administration cannot mirror the usual intradermal administration of BCG, in particular in patients partially immunocompromised.

SARS-CoV-2 serosurvey in health care workers of the Veneto Region.

Objectives The ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) poses formidable challenges to all health care systems. Serological assays may be used for improving disease management when appropriately applied, for investigating the antibody responses mounted against SARS-CoV-2 infection and for assessing its real prevalence. Although testing the whole population is impractical, well-designed serosurveys in selected subpopulations in specific risk groups may provide valuable information.

Impactibility Model for Population Health Management in High-Cost Elderly Heart Failure Patients: A Capture Method Using the ACG System.

The aim of the present study is to use the ACG (Adjusted Clinical Groups) System to create an impactibility model by identifying homogeneous clinical subgroups of patients with high risk of an adverse health outcome in a population of heart failure patients with complex health care needs (PCHCN). This method will allow policy makers to target and prioritize services for the highest risk PCHCN in the context of limited health care resources, by identifying relatively homogeneous groups of patients with similar comorbidities. Subjects classified in 2012 as PCHCN in a local health unit by the ACG System were linked with hospital discharge records in 2013.

Effectiveness of a community care management program for multimorbid elderly patients with heart failure in the Veneto Region.

Background: The rapidly growing population of elderly subjects with multimorbidity is at risk of receiving fragmented and uncoordinated care, and have frequent hospitalizations and emergency room (ER) visits.

Aims: The study aims to describe the impact of a care management program (CMP) developed in the Veneto region (Northeastern Italy) for patients affected by chronic heart failure (CHF) and multimorbidity.

Methods: The CMP was provided to 330 patients > 65 years suffering from CHF and multimorbidity.

Multimorbidity patterns in high-need, high-cost elderly patients.

Introduction: Patients with complex health care needs (PCHCN) are individuals who require numerous, costly care services and have been shown to place a heavy burden on health care resources. It has been argued that an important issue in providing value-based primary care concerns how to identify groups of patients with similar needs (who pose similar challenges) so that care teams and care delivery processes can be tailored to each patient subgroup. Our study aims to describe the most common chronic conditions and their combinations in a cohort of elderly PCHCN.

Multimorbidity and Hospital Admissions in High-Need, High-Cost Elderly Patients.

The aim was to clarify which pairs or clusters of diseases predict the hospital-related events and death in a population of patients with complex health care needs (PCHCN). Subjects classified in 2012 as PCHCN in a local health unit by ACG® (Adjusted Clinical Groups) System were linked with hospital discharge records in 2013 to identify those who experienced any of a series of hospital admission events and death. Number of comorbidities, comorbidities dyads, and latent classes were used as exposure variable.