Abstract
We analysed 5,484 close contacts of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in Italy, all tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Infection fatality ratio was 0.43% (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.21–0.79) for individuals younger than 70 years and 10.5% (95% CI: 8.0–13.6) for older individuals. Risk of death after infection was 62% lower (95% CI: 31–80) in clusters identified after 16 March 2020 and 1.8-fold higher for males (95% CI: 1.03–3.16).
Highlights
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) still represents a major global health threat as the majority of the world’s population remains susceptible to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) [1,2,3]
The proportion of infections resulting in a fatal outcome, known as infection fatality ratio (IFR), and the associated risk factors are still poorly quantified for SARS-CoV-2 [1,4]
The aim of this study was to provide estimates of SARS-CoV-2 IFR stratified by age, sex and comorbidities and to investigate the risk factors for fatal outcome in SARS-CoV-2-infected people
Summary
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) still represents a major global health threat as the majority of the world’s population remains susceptible to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) [1,2,3]. The study population comprised contacts of COVID-19 cases identified through contact tracing conducted in Lombardy, Italy between February and April 2020. For these subjects, we analysed reverse-transcription PCR (RT-PCR) results from nasopharyngeal swabs administered during the contact tracing activity. We analysed reverse-transcription PCR (RT-PCR) results from nasopharyngeal swabs administered during the contact tracing activity These data were complemented with the results of an ongoing serological survey on the same group of individuals that started on 16 April 2020. The IFR was computed as the proportion of deaths that occurred among all SARS-CoV-2positive contacts identified in the considered sample, here defined as subjects with at least one laboratory confirmation of their infection. CI: confidence interval; IFR: infection fatality ratio; SARS-CoV-2: severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. a Information on the epidemic period was not available for 67 close case contacts, including 43 SARS-CoV-2 infections and two deaths. b Estimates obtained by aggregating the sample irrespective of age should be cautiously interpreted as the sample may not reflect agespecific SARS-CoV-2 immunity in the population. c Patients with more than one comorbidity are counted multiple times
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
