Abstract
The northern Italian region of Lombardy has been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic since its arrival in Europe. However, there are only a few published studies of the possible influence of social and cultural factors on its prevalence in the general population. This cross-sectional study of the San Siro social-housing neighbourhood of Milan, which was carried about between 23 December 2020 and 19 February 2021, found that the prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid antibodies in the population as a whole was 12.4% (253/2044 inhabitants), but there was a more than two-fold difference between non-Italians and Italians (23.3% vs. 9.1%). Multivariable analyses showed that being more than 50 years old, living in crowded accommodation, being a non-Italian, and having a low educational level were associated with higher odds of a positive SARS-CoV-2 test, whereas a higher level of education, retirement, and being a former or current cigarette smoker were inversely associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our findings are in line with previous observations indicating that a lower socio-economic status may be a risk factor for COVID-19 and show that non-Italians are disproportionately affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection. This suggests that public health policies should focus more on disadvantaged populations.
Highlights
Northern Italy was rapidly and severely affected by the arrival of the Severe AcuteRespiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, but there are few published data concerning the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the general population
Italian Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) estimated that the overall prevalence of COVID-19 in Italy was 2.5% in August 2020, with large regional differences ranging from 7.5% in Lombardy to 0.3% on the islands of Sardinia and Sicily, and significant variations within the same region [1]
In Lombardy, a prevalence of approximately 20% was observed in the areas around Lodi and Crema south-east of Milan, both of which were involved in the first COVID-19 outbreak [1,2,3]
Summary
Northern Italy was rapidly and severely affected by the arrival of the Severe Acute. Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, but there are few published data concerning the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the general population. The. Italian Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) estimated that the overall prevalence of COVID-19 in Italy was 2.5% in August 2020, with large regional differences ranging from 7.5% in Lombardy (northern Italy) to 0.3% on the islands of Sardinia and Sicily, and significant variations within the same region [1]. In Lombardy (the most severely affected Italian region), a prevalence of approximately 20% was observed in the areas around Lodi and Crema south-east of Milan, both of which were involved in the first COVID-19 outbreak [1,2,3].
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