Nicola Vanacore (Italy)
National Institute of Health National Center for Disease Prevention and Health PromotionAuthor Of 2 Presentations
RISK OF SARS-COV 2 INFECTION AND DEATH FOR COVID-19 IN PEOPLE LIVING WITH DEMENTIA IN THE LAZIO REGION, ITALY
- Silvia Cascini (Italy)
Abstract
Background and Aims:
Patients with dementia may be vulnerable to SARS-CoV 2 infection. Dementia is considered a relevant risk of adverse outcomes among COVID-19 patients. The aims of this study were to evaluate the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection and mortality in a cohort of patients with dementia living in the Lazio Region and to identify predicting factors for infection and death.
Methods:
We conducted a population-based study using health care administrative databases. We enrolled dementia patients, 65 aged or over, residing in the Lazio Region. Each patient was followed between January, 2020 and February, 2021 to ascertain SARS-CoV-2 infection and up to December 2020 to assess mortality. Univariate and multivariable binomial regression models were used to estimate risk of infection and death. A multivariable logistic regression model was fitted to test a large number of factors as possible determinants of two outcome.
Results:
Among 37,729 dementia patients (mean age 82 years), 7% were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection during the follow up, and among these 31% died. Women, patients with cerebrovascular diseases, pneumonia, blood’s diseases, femur fracture, anxiety, and those using antipsychotic or antithrombotic agents had higher infection probability. Males, the oldest patients, not resident in Rome, with symptoms at SARS-COV-2 diagnosis, those using antipsychotic, antithrombotic or antibacterial agents had higher odds of death.
Conclusions:
Our findings revealed that there are disease-specific differences in infection susceptibility among dementia patients and highlight the need to protect these group of patients as part of the strategy to control the COVID-19 effects.
DEMENTIA AND COGNITIVE DISORDERS AMONG INTERNATIONAL MIGRANTS LIVING IN ITALY: FINDINGS FROM THE IMMIDEM SURVEY
- Marco Canevelli (Italy)
Abstract
Background and Aims:
The occurrence of cognitive disorders among international migrants is increasing in most western countries and can assume special clinical and public health relevance. The aims of the present study were i) to estimate the number of migrants attending Italian dementia services, and ii) to identify possible barriers and resources surrounding this issue.
Methods:
A nationwide survey of all Italian memory clinics (CCDDs, centers for cognitive disorders and dementia) was conducted between December 2020 and April 2021. The representatives of CCDDs were asked to fill a questionnaire to collect information on i) the number of migrants (i.e., people born abroad) attending these services in 2019, ii) the main complexities encountered in the clinical assessment of cognitive disturbances in migrants, and iii) possible facilitators in the provision of care.
Results:
Overall, 343 out of the 570 contacted CCDDs returned the completed survey questionnaire (response rate: 60.2%). A total of 4,530 migrants attended Italian dementia services in 2019, accounting for 1.7% of overall referrals, with wide variations by region, setting, and administrative features. 37.9% of centers reported that the number of migrants undergoing clinical evaluation had increased over the past 5 years. A minority of CCDDs had information material on dementia in languages other than Italian, translated cognitive tests, or cross-cultural assessment tools. Conversely, most services reported the possibility of contacting social care providers, cultural mediators, and/or interpreters.
Conclusions:
This is the first attempt to provide a nationwide characterization of the issue of dementia in migrants living in Italy.