Examining potential Long COVID effects through utilization of healthcare resources: a retrospective, population-based, matched cohort study comparing individuals with and without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection.

BACKGROUND: A significant proportion of individuals reports persistent clinical manifestations following SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) acute infection. Nevertheless, knowledge of the burden of this condition-often referred to as 'Long COVID'-on the health care system remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate healthcare utilization potentially related to Long COVID. METHODS: Population-based, retrospective, multi-center cohort study that analyzed hospital admissions and utilization of outpatient visits and diagnostic tests between adults aged 40 years and older recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection occurred between February 2020 and December 2021 and matched unexposed individuals during a 6-month observation period. Healthcare utilization was analyzed by considering the setting of care for acute SARS-CoV-2 infection [non-hospitalized, hospitalized and intensive care unit (ICU)-admitted] as a proxy for the severity of acute infection and epidemic phases characterized by different SARS-CoV-2 variants. Data were retrieved from regional health administrative databases of three Italian Regions. RESULTS: The final cohort consisted of 307 994 previously SARS-CoV-2 infected matched with 307 994 uninfected individuals. Among exposed individuals, 92.2% were not hospitalized during the acute infection, 7.3% were hospitalized in a non-ICU ward and 0.5% were admitted to ICU. Individuals previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 (vs. unexposed), especially those hospitalized or admitted to ICU, reported higher utilization of outpatient visits (range of pooled Incidence Rate Ratios across phases; non-hospitalized: 1.11-1.33, hospitalized: 1.93-2.19, ICU-admitted: 3.01-3.40), diagnostic tests (non-hospitalized: 1.35-1.84, hospitalized: 2.86-3.43, ICU-admitted: 4.72-7.03) and hospitalizations (non-hospitalized: 1.00-1.52, hospitalized: 1.87-2.36, ICU-admitted: 4.69-5.38). CONCLUSIONS: This study found that SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with increased use of health care in the 6 months following infection, and association was mainly driven by acute infection severity.

The impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with cystic fibrosis undergoing CFTR channel modulators treatment: a literature review.

Several risk factors for Coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) disease have been highlighted in clinical evidence. Among the various risk factors are advanced age, metabolic illness such as diabetes, heart disease, and diseases of the respiratory system. Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a rare disease with autosomal recessive transmission, characterised by a lack of synthesis of the CFTR channel protein, and multi-organ clinical symptoms mainly affecting the respiratory tract with recurrent pulmonary exacerbations. In view of the pathophysiological mechanisms, CF disease should be in theory considered a risk factor for SARS-CoV2 or severe COVID-19. However, recent clinical evidence seems to point in the opposite direction, suggesting that CF could be a protective factor against severe COVID-19. Possibly, the lack of presence or function of the CFTR channel protein could be linked to the expression of the membrane glycoprotein ACE-2, a key enzyme for the endocellular penetration of SARS-CoV-2 and related to the pathophysiology of COVID-19 disease. Furthermore, CFTR channel modulating agents could indirectly influence the expression of ACE-2, playing an important role in restoring the proper functioning of mucociliary clearance and the pulmonary microbiome in the host response to SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this review, the authors attempt to shed light on these important associations of issues that are not yet fully elucidated.

Quality Control of Carbon Look Components via Surface Defect Classification with Deep Neural Networks.

Many "Industry 4.0" applications rely on data-driven methodologies such as Machine Learning and Deep Learning to enable automatic tasks and implement smart factories. Among these applications, the automatic quality control of manufacturing materials is of utmost importance to achieve precision and standardization in production. In this regard, most of the related literature focused on combining Deep Learning with Nondestructive Testing techniques, such as Infrared Thermography, requiring dedicated settings to detect and classify defects in composite materials. Instead, the research described in this paper aims at understanding whether deep neural networks and transfer learning can be applied to plain images to classify surface defects in carbon look components made with Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers used in the automotive sector. To this end, we collected a database of images from a real case study, with 400 images to test binary classification (defect vs. no defect) and 1500 for the multiclass classification (components with no defect vs. recoverable vs. non-recoverable). We developed and tested ten deep neural networks as classifiers, comparing ten different pre-trained CNNs as feature extractors. Specifically, we evaluated VGG16, VGG19, ResNet50 version 2, ResNet101 version 2, ResNet152 version 2, Inception version 3, MobileNet version 2, NASNetMobile, DenseNet121, and Xception, all pre-trainined with ImageNet, combined with fully connected layers to act as classifiers. The best classifier, i.e., the network based on DenseNet121, achieved a 97% accuracy in classifying components with no defects, recoverable components, and non-recoverable components, demonstrating the viability of the proposed methodology to classify surface defects from images taken with a smartphone in varying conditions, without the need for dedicated settings. The collected images and the source code of the experiments are available in two public, open-access repositories, making the presented research fully reproducible.

Climate change, human migration and health nexus: what do we know about public health implications on a global scale?

OBJECTIVE: to address the nexus among climate change, migration, and health at global and Italian levels. DESIGN: narrative review. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: comprehensive, critical, and objective analysis of the current knowledge on the topic by searching online databases. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: evidence from the literature examining health issues associated with migration in the context of climate change. RESULTS: anthropogenic climate change has recently influenced the scale and patterns of human mobility, not only as a driver of migration, but also by interacting with and amplifying the effects of migration determinants, including health determinants. Despite research focusing on the distinct relationship between climate change and migration, as well as climate change and health, little attention has been paid to the nexus among climate change, migration, and health. Evidence available examining various health issues associated with migration in the context of climate change include changing patterns of infectious diseases and their risks, rising cases of malnutrition, trauma and injuries, changing patterns of noncommunicable diseases, impact on mental health. Inadequacy of access to health services due to the weakening and overstretching health systems also plays an important role. In a country like Italy, even if the immediate threats posed by climate change differ from one area to another, these threats are already exacerbating the country's existing infrastructure deficiencies, industrial pollution, and hydrogeological and seismic vulnerability. In addition, Italy has historically been a destination country of immigrant afflux through different migration routes. It is possible that the consequences of climate change in Sub-Saharan Africa will drive a growing number of people to cross the sea to reach Europe, specifically Italy. Conclusions: climate change, human migration, and health should be considered as an interconnected and complex issue. A shift to climate resilient health systems' is a useful precautionary measure as it aims to strengthen multiple aspects of national and sub-national health systems, regardless of the extent to which climate-related migration might occur.

Factors associated with emotional exhaustion in healthcare professionals involved in the COVID-19 pandemic: an application of the job demands-resources model.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present cross-sectional study is to investigate the role of perceived COVID-19-related organizational demands and threats in predicting emotional exhaustion, and the role of organizational support in reducing the negative influence of perceived COVID-19 work-related stressors on burnout. Moreover, the present study aims to add to the understanding of the role of personal resources in the Job Demands-Resources model (JD-R) by examining whether personal resources-such as the professionals' orientation towards patient engagement-may also strengthen the impact of job resources and mitigate the impact of job demands. METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved 532 healthcare professionals working during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy. It adopted the Job-Demands-Resource Model to study the determinants of professional's burnout. An integrative model describing how increasing job demands experienced by this specific population are related to burnout and in particular to emotional exhaustion symptoms was developed. RESULTS: The results of the logistic regression models provided strong support for the proposed model, as both Job Demands and Resources are significant predictors (OR = 2.359 and 0.563 respectively, with p < 0.001). Moreover, healthcare professionals' orientation towards patient engagement appears as a significant moderator of this relationship, as it reduces Demands' effect (OR = 1.188) and increases Resources' effect (OR = 0.501). CONCLUSIONS: These findings integrate previous findings on the JD-R Model and suggest the relevance of personal resources and of relational factors in affecting professionals' experience of burnout.

Detecting persons at risk for diabetes mellitus type 2 using FINDRISC: results from a community pharmacy-based study.

Background: This cross-sectional study has been developed within the framework of the Italian project 'We love your heart' ('Ci sta a cuore il tuo cuore') and reports the results of the initial type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) risk assessment carried out in a big network of community pharmacies in Italy and Spain. Methods: In total 4002 pharmacists from 854pharmacies were specifically trained to collect data and perform the evaluation of the probability of developing T2DM among pharmacy customers. The risk of developing T2DM within 10 years was evaluated using the FINDRISC. Results: Overall, 7234 (22.1%) subjects were at low risk to develop the disease, whereas 43.3% were at slightly elevated risk (scores 7-11), 19.3% were at moderate (scores 12-14), 13.9% were at high (scores 15-20), and 1.4% were at very high risk (scores > 20). Spanish participants showed higher levels of risk than Italian (16.7 vs. 14.7%) taking the cut-off FINDRISC ≥ 15. Conclusion: This study shows that considerable percentage of persons is likely to develop diabetes in the next 10 years. Analyses of the risk factors indicate that men were more susceptible to develop this disease, as well as the Spanish participants respect to Italian.

[An effective clinical leadrship to strenghten the immunization policies in Italy]. / Una leadership medica efficace a tutela della prevenzione vaccinale in Italia.

Effective governance for health is a prerequisite for implementing a transformation in healthcare. Any change, in order to be fully implemented, requires a strong and transparent leadership. The recent drop in vaccine cover has led our National Health Service to implement a number of changes in health prevention and immunization strategies that make vaccination an optimal paradigm of how healthcare leadership should not remain the focus of few scientists and public health specialists, but it should be more and more widespread at all levels. In fact, as in other areas of health, the implementation of a national evidence-based planning through efficient organization and management is not sufficient to ensure good results, but it is necessary that the whole system - institutions, policy makers, healthcare professionals, media and citizens themselves - is actively involved in driving change, promoting ethical, economic and social value of vaccinations.

Obtaining health care in another European Union Member State: how easy is it to find relevant information?

The European Union Directive on cross-border health care places an obligation on member states (MSs) to establish one or more national contact points (NCPs). We evaluated whether MSs were meeting their legal obligations. Two researchers created a set of criteria, drawn from the Directive, to evaluate the information that 18 MSs provide on their NCP websites. Some 15 of the 18 MSs evaluated provided >75% of the information sought. This report shows examples of best practices that could be used to encourage other MSs to improve the quality and quantity of information provided.

[Vocational training in public health during medical school: a pilot study]. / Tirocinio professionalizzante in Sanità Pubblica nel Corso di Laurea in Medicina e Chirurgia. Un'esperienza pilota.

UNLABELLED: The need to integrate clinical and public health training of medical students is increasingly important. Future physicians need to be able to deal with new, complex and growing public health challenges. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature search was performed through Pubmed to identify the conceptual reference framework. Meetings were carried out to identify the most appropriate modalities and priorities required for drafting the project, to identify the skills to be acquired by students, to decide on teaching formats and methods to assess student learning, to draw up the teaching schedule, to define the statistical methods to be used to assess student satisfaction, and to perform the statistical analysis of results. Training in hospital hygiene and environmental safety was carried out through presentation of a relevant case. After being divided into groups the students attended the three units (Environmental Microbiology, Environmental Xenobiotics, Genetic Epidemiology and Molecular Biology) of the Hygiene Section of a Public Health Institute. Training in Organization and Health Programming involved presentation of a set of indicators for the definition of objectives and assessment of health systems or services. RESULTS: The literature search led to the identification of the relevant literature. With regard to student satisfaction, 96% of those who replied to the questionnaire gave an overall positive review of the training course (at least 3 on a scale from 1 to 5). CONCLUSIONS: the overall high level of student satisfaction suggests that the proposed model may be exportable. Further developments will be the assessment of trends regarding functioning of the organizational model and perceived teaching quality.

SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance of migrants arriving to Europe through the Mediterranean routes.

Background: The implementation genomic-based surveillance on emerging severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants in low-income countries, which have inadequate molecular and sequencing capabilities and limited vaccine storage, represents a challenge for public health. To date, there is little evidence on molecular investigations of SARS-CoV-2 variants in areas where they might emerge. We report the findings of an experimental SARS-CoV-2 molecular surveillance programme for migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers arriving to Europe via Italy through the Mediterranean Sea. Methods: We descriptively analysed data on migrants collected at entry points in Sicily from February 2021 to May 2022. These entry points are integrated with a network of laboratories fully equipped for molecular analyses, which performed next-generation sequencing and used Nextclade and the Pangolin coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) tools for clade/lineage assignment. Results: We obtained 472 full-length SARS-CoV-2 sequences and identified 12 unique clades belonging to 31 different lineages. The delta variant accounted for 43.6% of all genomes, followed by clades 21D (Eta) and 20A (25.4% and 11.4%, respectively). Notably, some of the identified lineages (A.23.1, A.27, and A.29) predicted their introduction into the migration area. The mutation analysis allowed us to identify 617 different amino acid substitutions, 156 amino acid deletions, 7 stop codons, and 6 amino acid insertions. Lastly, we highlighted the geographical distribution patterns of some mutational profiles occurring in the migrants' countries of origin. Conclusions: Genome-based molecular surveillance dedicated to migrant populations from low-resource areas may be useful for forecasting new epidemiological scenarios related to SARS-CoV-2 variants or other emerging pathogens, as well as for informing the updating of vaccination strategies.

Enhancing routine immunization efforts for older adults and frail individuals: Good practices during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Italy.

Infectious diseases pose a significant burden on the general population, particularly older adults who are more susceptible to severe complications. Immunization plays a crucial role in preventing infections and securing a healthier aging, but actual vaccination rates among older adults and frail individuals (OAFs) remains far from recommended targets. This study aims to collect and share good practices implemented in several Italian local health districts during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic to ease routine immunization for OAFs. A 28-items questionnaire has been developed to collect information on organization aspect of immunization services and local good practices implemented before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Twelve Public Health managers representative of 9 Italian Regions were further interviewed between January and March 2021. Despite literature suggests several effective interventions to increase vaccine demand, improve vaccine access, and enhance healthcare providers' performance, our survey highlighted substantial heterogeneity in their implementation at local level. Seven good local practices have been identified and described: mass vaccination centers; vaccination mobile units; drive-through vaccination; co-administration; tailored pathways; cooperation among providers involved in vaccination; digitization. Our survey pointed out valuable strategies for enhancing routine immunization for OAFs. Providers should combine effective interventions adequate to their specific context and share good practices.

From mass vaccination to personalized vaccinology? The COVID-19 case. Commentary.

In recent times, especially as a result of the experience gained worldwide with the COVID19 pandemic vaccination campaigns, the personalization of vaccination strategies is becoming increasingly important. This does not yet mean bringing precision medicine and genomics approaches into immunization campaigns, but where there is more than one vaccine against the same disease, there is a need to identify criteria for personalizing vaccination.Vaccination strategies based on prescription appropriateness - whenever is possible - can lead to more effective immune response, reduced rates of adverse events, increased public confidence in vaccination and higher vaccination coverage, contributing to a decrease of morbidity and mortality related to preventable diseases.

The Magnitude of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Seafarers from 1994 to 2021: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: The incidence of acute cardiac events is one of the main reasons for medical consultation, disembarkation, repatriation, and death among seafarers at sea. Managing cardiovascular risk factors, particularly those that can be modified, is the key to preventing cardiovascular disease. Therefore, this review estimates the pooled prevalence of major CVD risk factors among seafarers. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive search of studies published between 1994 and December 2021 in four international databases, namely PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science (WOS). Each study was evaluated for methodological quality using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tool for prevalence studies. The DerSimonian-Laird random-effects model with logit transformations was used to estimate the pooled prevalence of major CVD risk factors. The results were reported in accordance with the Preferred Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. RESULTS: Out of all 1484 studies reviewed, 21 studies with 145,913 study participants met the eligibility criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. In the pooled analysis, the prevalence of smoking was found to be 40.14% (95% CI: 34.29 to 46.29%) with heterogeneity between studies (I2 = 98%, p < 0.01). The prevalence of hypertension, overweight, obesity, diabetes mellitus, and alcohol consumption was 45.32%, 41.67%, 18.60%, 12.70%, and 38.58%, respectively. However, the sensitivity analysis after excluding studies showed a pooled prevalence of hypertension, overweight, obesity, and diabetes mellitus of 44.86%, 41.87%, 15.99%, and 16.84%, respectively. The subgroup analysis demonstrated that smoking prevalence among seafarers had decreased significantly after 2013. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that CVD risk factors, particularly hypertension, overweight, smoking, alcohol consumption, and obesity, are prevalent among seafarers. These findings may serve as a guide for shipping companies and other responsible bodies in order to prevent CVD risk factors among seafarers. PROSPERO Registration: CRD42022300993.

The new Italian National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG) and its commitment to endorse a new efficient National Immunization Plan in COVID-19 times.

Among the objectives of the WHO Global Vaccination Action Plan 2020-2025, there is the establishment, in all countries, of a National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG), an independent body with the aim of supporting and harmonising vaccination policies. Italy firstly established a NITAG in 2017; it contributed to the nation's immunization policies but fell short of its goal of becoming a true reference group. The newly appointed NITAG, made up of 28 independent experts, has the ambitious goal to promote the new National Immunization Prevention Plan (PNPV), to harmonise the current vaccination schedule with the anti-COVID-19 campaign, and to recover the vaccination coverage decline that occurred during the pandemic. The contact with the ECDC EU/EEA, the WHO Global NITAG networks, and all the national stakeholders needs to be reinforced in order to accomplish these aims. This paper describes the structure, organisation, and strategy of the new Italian NITAG.

Risk prediction model of self-reported hypertension for telemedicine based on the sociodemographic, occupational and health-related characteristics of seafarers: a cross-sectional epidemiological study.

OBJECTIVES: High blood pressure is a common health concern among seafarers. However, due to the remote nature of their work, it can be difficult for them to access regular monitoring of their blood pressure. Therefore, the development of a risk prediction model for hypertension in seafarers is important for early detection and prevention. This study developed a risk prediction model of self-reported hypertension for telemedicine. DESIGN: A cross-sectional epidemiological study was employed. SETTING: This study was conducted among seafarers aboard ships. Data on sociodemographic, occupational and health-related characteristics were collected using anonymous, standardised questionnaires. PARTICIPANTS: This study involved 8125 seafarers aged 18-70 aboard 400 vessels between November 2020 and December 2020. 4318 study subjects were included in the analysis. Seafarers over 18 years of age, active (on duty) during the study and willing to give informed consent were the inclusion criteria. OUTCOME MEASURES: We calculated the adjusted OR (AOR) with 95% CIs using multiple logistic regression models to estimate the associations between sociodemographic, occupational and health-related characteristics and self-reported hypertension. We also developed a risk prediction model for self-reported hypertension for telemedicine based on seafarers' characteristics. RESULTS: Among the 4318 participants, 55.3% and 44.7% were non-officers and officers, respectively. 20.8% (900) of the participants reported having hypertension. Multivariable analysis showed that age (AOR: 1.08, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.10), working long hours per week (AOR: 1.02, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.03), work experience at sea (10+ years) (AOR: 1.79, 95% CI 1.33 to 2.42), being a non-officer (AOR: 1.75, 95% CI 1.44 to 2.13), snoring (AOR: 3.58, 95% CI 2.96 to 4.34) and other health-related variables were independent predictors of self-reported hypertension, which were included in the final risk prediction model. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the predictive model were 56.4%, 94.4% and 86.5%, respectively. CONCLUSION: A risk prediction model developed in the present study is accurate in predicting self-reported hypertension in seafarers' onboard ships.

Italian good practice recommendations on management of persons with Long-COVID.

A significant number of people, following acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, report persistent symptoms or new symptoms that are sustained over time, often affecting different body systems. This condition, commonly referred to as Long-COVID, requires a complex clinical management. In Italy new health facilities specifically dedicated to the diagnosis and care of Long-COVID were implemented. However, the activity of these clinical centers is highly heterogeneous, with wide variation in the type of services provided, specialistic expertise and, ultimately, in the clinical care provided. Recommendations for a uniform management of Long-COVID were therefore needed. Professionals from different disciplines (including general practitioners, specialists in respiratory diseases, infectious diseases, internal medicine, geriatrics, cardiology, neurology, pediatrics, and odontostomatology) were invited to participate, together with a patient representative, in a multidisciplinary Panel appointed to draft Good Practices on clinical management of Long-COVID. The Panel, after extensive literature review, issued recommendations on 3 thematic areas: access to Long-COVID services, clinical evaluation, and organization of the services. The Panel highlighted the importance of providing integrated multidisciplinary care in the management of patients after SARS-CoV-2 infection, and agreed that a multidisciplinary service, one-stop clinic approach could avoid multiple referrals and reduce the number of appointments. In areas where multidisciplinary services are not available, services may be provided through integrated and coordinated primary, community, rehabilitation and mental health services. Management should be adapted according to the patient's needs and should promptly address possible life-threatening complications. The present recommendations could provide guidance and support in standardizing the care provided to Long-COVID patients.

Patient-centeredness and e-health among Italian hospitals: results of a cross-sectional web-based survey.

OBJECTIVES: Given the growing recognition of patient-centeredness as a healthcare quality indicator and its limited implementation in practice, our study evaluated how the Italian hospitals (ItHs), including research hospitals (IRCCSs), research teaching hospitals (THs), and independent public hospital trusts (AOs), address the dimension of online data access through their institutional Web sites to promote a patient-centered care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To address patient-centeredness and e-health, eight specific indicators adapted from the Euro Health Consumer Index were evaluated from 169 ItHs: online booking of healthcare services; access to medical records; register of legitimate doctors; waiting times for most commonly delivered healthcare services; transport information; centralized booking; public relations office; and pain management hospital committee. Univariate and bivariate statistics and a logistic regression analysis have been performed. RESULTS: The majority of the ItHs were under public ownership, and half of them are located in Northern Italy. From the logistic regression analysis, AOs appeared to be more likely to develop a patient-centered healthcare approach (odds ratio [OR]=3.69; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.14-11.89) compared with IRCCSs or THs. In addition, when grouped together, all public hospitals show more than threefold higher implementation of patient-centeredness strategies (OR=3.60; 95% CI 1.49-8.72) with respect to private ones. Northern hospitals are more likely to ensure wider implementation of a patient-centered approach to healthcare (OR=3.37; 95% CI 1.49-7.62). CONCLUSIONS: According to our results, most of the ItHs are under public ownership, and half of them are located in the northern regions of Italy. The higher implementation of patient-centeredness strategies observed for Northern hospitals highlights interregional disparity in healthcare that needs a coordinated effort at both the hospital and policymaker levels to ensure a widespread implementation of patient-centered care among all Italian regions.

Childhood Immunisation Coverage during the COVID-19 Epidemic in Italy.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected national healthcare systems worldwide, with around 282 million cumulative confirmed cases reported in over 220 countries and territories as of the end of 2021. The Italian National Health System was heavily affected, with detrimental impacts on preventive service delivery. Routine vaccination services were disrupted across the country during the first months of the pandemic, and both access to and demand for vaccines have decreased during the pandemic. In many cases, parents preferred to postpone scheduled appointments for routine paediatric vaccinations because of stay-at-home orders or fear of COVID-19 infection when accessing care. The objective of the current study was to assess the routine childhood vaccine coverage (VC) rates during the COVID-19 epidemic in Italy. We compared 2020 and 2019 VC by age group and vaccine type. The Italian Ministry of Health collected anonymised and aggregated immunisation national data through the local health authorities (LHAs). Results were considered statistically significant at a two-tailed p-value ≤ 0.05. VC rates for mandatory vaccinations decreased in 2020 compared to 2019 (range of VC rate decrease: -1% to -2.7%), while chicken pox increased (+2.2%) in 7-year-old children. Recommended vaccinations were moderately affected (range of VC rate decrease in 2020 vs. 2019: -1.4% to -8.5%), with the exception of anti-HPV in males, Men ACWY, and anti-rotavirus vaccination (VC increase 2020 vs. 2019: +1.8%, +4.7% and +9.4%, respectively). In the COVID-19 era, the implementation of coherent, transparent, and effective communication campaigns and educational programs on safe childhood vaccinations, together with the increase in the number of healthcare staff employed, is essential to support strategies to reinforce vaccination confidence and behaviour, thus avoiding health threats due to VPD during and beyond COVID-19 times.

Characteristics of Long-COVID care centers in Italy. A national survey of 124 clinical sites.

Background: Despite the growing clinical relevance of Long-COVID, there is minimal information available on the organizational response of health services to this condition. Methods: A national online survey of centers providing assistance for Long-COVID was implemented. Information collected included date of start of activity, target population, mode of assistance and of referral, type and number of specialists available, diagnostic and instrumental tests, use of telemedicine and of specific questionnaires. Results: Between February and May 2022, 124 centers completed the survey. Half of them were situated in northern Italy. Most (88.9%) provided assistance through either outpatient visits or day hospital services. Eleven (8.9%) assisted pediatric patients. Access to centers included scheduled visits for previously hospitalized patients (67.7%), referral from primary care (62.1%), from other specialists (46.8%), and, less commonly, from other services. Almost half of the centers (46.3%) started their activity early in the pandemics (March-September 2020). Almost all (93.5%) communicated with primary care physicians, and 21.8% used telemedicine tools. The mean number of patients followed was 40 per month (median 20, IQR 10-40). In most cases, the center coordinator was a specialist in respiratory diseases (30.6%), infectious diseases (28.2%), or internal medicine (25.0%). At least half of the centers had specialistic support in cardiology, respiratory diseases, radiology, infectious diseases, neurology and psychology, but roughly one quarter of centers had just only one (14.5%) or two (9.7%) specialists available. The clinical assessment was usually supported by a wide range of laboratory and instrumental diagnostics and by multidimensional evaluations. Conclusions: Most of the centers had an articulate and multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis and care of Long-COVID. However, a minority of centers provided only single or dual specialistic support. These findings may be of help in defining common standards, interventions and guidelines that can reduce gaps and heterogeneity in assistance to patients with Long-COVID.

HPV Vaccination during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy: Opportunity Loss or Incremental Cost.

OBJECTIVES: Italy was the first European country to introduce universal vaccination of adolescents, for both males and females, against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) starting in 2017 with the NIP 2017-2019's release. However, vaccine coverage rates (VCRs) among adolescents have shown a precarious take-off since the NIP's release, and this situation worsened due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The aim of this work is to estimate the epidemiological and economic impact of drops in VCRs due to the pandemic on those generations that missed the vaccination appointment and to discuss alternative scenarios in light of the national data. METHODS: Through an analysis of the official ministerial HPV vaccination reports, a model was developed to estimate the number of 12-year-old males and females who were not vaccinated against HPV during the period 2017-2021. Based on previously published models that estimate the incidence and the economic impact of HPV-related diseases in Italy, a new model was developed to estimate the impact of the aggregated HPV VCRs achieved in Italy between 2017 and 2021. RESULTS: Overall, in 2021, 723,375 girls and 1,011,906 boys born between 2005 and 2009 were not vaccinated against HPV in Italy (42% and 52% of these cohorts, respectively). As compared with the 95% target provided by the Italian NIP, between 505,000 and 634,000 girls will not be protected against a large number of HPV-related diseases. For boys, the number of the unvaccinated population compared to the applicable target is over 615,000 in the 'best case scenario' and over 749,000 in the 'worst case scenario'. Overall, between 1.1 and 1.3 million young adolescents born between 2005 and 2009 will not be protected against HPV-related diseases over their lifetime with expected lifetime costs of non-vaccination that will be over EUR 905 million. If the 95% optimal VCRs were achieved, the model estimates a cost reduction equal to EUR 529 million, the net of the costs incurred to implement the vaccination program. CONCLUSION: Suboptimal vaccination coverage represents a missed opportunity, not only because of the increased burden of HPV-related diseases, but also in terms of economic loss. Thus, reaching national HPV immunization goals is a public health priority.