Analysis of the direct economic impact of smoking-related hospitalizations in Italy.

Introduction: Tobacco-related diseases have a substantial economic impact in terms of medical expenses, loss of productivity, and premature death. Tobacco use is estimated to be responsible for more than 90000 deaths each year in Italy. We aimed to evaluate the annual direct economic impact on the National Health System of hospitalizations attributable to tobacco smoking in Italy.

COVID-19 pandemic impact on mental health in a large representative sample of older adults from the Lombardy region, Italy.

Background: We aimed to assess the prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms, hopelessness and insomnia in the older adults before and during the COVID-19 pandemic identifying subgroups at higher risk of mental distress.

Methods: Within the Lost in Lombardy project, a web-based cross-sectional study was conducted on a representative sample of 4400 older adults aged 65 years or more from the Lombardy region recruited between November 17th and 30th 2020.

Results: The prevalence of depressive symptoms increased by +112 % during the pandemic, anxiety symptoms by +136 %, insufficient sleep by +12 %, unsatisfactory sleep by +15 %.

A real world analysis of COVID-19 impact on hospitalizations in older adults with chronic conditions from an Italian region.

Healthcare delivery reorganization during the COVID-19 emergency may have had a significant impact on access to care for older adults with chronic conditions. We investigated such impact among all adults with chronic conditions aged ≥ 65 years, identified through the electronic health databases of two local health agencies-ATS Brianza and ATS Bergamo-from the Lombardy region, Italy. We considered hospitalizations for 2020 compared to the average 2017-2019 and quantified differences using rate ratios (RRs).

COVID-19 pandemic impact on people with diabetes: results from a large representative sample of Italian older adults.

Aims: Restrictions imposed to prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission should be weighed against consequences on vulnerable groups' health. Lifestyles and disease management of older people with diabetes might have been differentially impacted compared to non-chronic individuals.

Methods: A cross-sectional study (LOST in Lombardia) was conducted on a representative full sample of 4 400 older adults (17-30 November 2020), collecting data on lifestyles, mental health and access to care before and during the pandemic.

Early clinical performance of an adaptive self-assembling barrier scaffold in nonhealing chronic wounds: a review of six cases.

Introduction: Chronic nonhealing wounds pose a serious concern for patient health and the health care system. Management of chronic wounds becomes especially challenging in the setting of systemic comorbidities and patient nonadherence.

Objective: Authors evaluated the performance of a proprietary adaptive self-assembling barrier scaffold (aSABS) in the management and healing of complex chronic wounds.