Age, comorbidities, nursing home stay and outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection in a Northern Italian cohort

Background & aims. A large proportion of deaths from SARS-CoV-2 infections worldwide occur among nursing home residents. The aim of this research is to study the association between age and comorbidities and the likelihood of hospitalization and death in patients with SARSCoV- 2 infection in an Italian province, taking into account the residential setting. Methods. Retrospective cohort study based on multiple anonymous administrative health databases. Multinomial logistic regression was used to assess the association of sex, age, comorbidities, nursing home residency, calendar time with likelihood of hospitalization (with no death) and death, adjusting for mutual confounding. Results. Older subjects had increased likelihood of both outcomes. Congestive heart failure and hypothyroidism significantly increased the likelihood of death. Neurological diseases and hypertension increased the risk of hospitalization. Nursing home residents were over-represented in the cohort. They had reduced likelihood of hospitalization, but mortality was analogous of that of other persons of the same age and clinical conditions. Conclusions. Efforts should be done to protect elderly and frail people from SARS-CoV-2, regardless of the residential setting.