Change in Caffeine Consumption after Pandemic (CCAP-Study) among University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study from Italy.

(1) Background: The lockdown, imposed to limit the pandemic evolution, impacted the social habits and lifestyle of inhabitants also from many countries other than Italy. Caffeine consumption could be a useful option to improve mood, as the lockdown strongly affected mental health, particularly increasing anxiety and sleep disorders. (2) Methods: It was a cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the change in caffeine consumption after the pandemic period in a sample of Italian University students. It investigated coffee and products containing caffeine consumption, the anxiety level by State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and sleep quality with the Insomnia Severity Index (ISS). (3) Results: A total of 404 participants were enrolled in the study. During the lockdown period, 23% of subjects consumed more coffee compared to the pre-pandemic period. Daily coffee consumption also changed after the lockdown period compared to the pre-pandemic period, with 36.1% of subjects that increased their consumption. Comparing other caffeine-based products, energizing supplement consumption showed a greater increase after the lockdown period than energy drinks. Regarding anxiety, subjects who reported increased coffee consumption reported higher STAI scores and ISS. (4) Conclusions: About a quarter of university students increased their consumption of caffeine-based products after the pandemic, reporting higher levels of anxiety and poor sleep quality.

Incidence of Rotavirus-Related Hospitalizations in an Italian Southern Region from 2015 to 2021.

(1) Background: Rotavirus is one of the leading causes of severe diarrhea and dehydration in infants and young children worldwide. The economic and social burden of rotavirus-related hospitalizations, particularly among children, remains a pressing concern for healthcare systems across the globe. Healthcare infrastructure and access to medical care can vary significantly within the region. Differences in the availability of healthcare facilities and the quality of care may influence the management and outcomes of rotavirus cases. (2) Methods: This was a retrospective study performed in the Abruzzo region, Italy. The study considered all hospitalization due to rotavirus gastroenteritis that occurred in the Abruzzo region from the year 2015 to 2021. Data were extracted from the hospital discharge records. The trend in hospital admissions, hospitalization costs and length of stay were evaluated and analyzed. (3) Results: A total of 664 admissions were reported during the study period. The incident rate grew till year 2019 with an annual percentage change of +13.9% (95%CI 12.6-15.2, p < 0.001). During the pandemic years, the incident rate showed a significant decrease with an annual percentage change of 12.5% (95%CI 15.5-9.3, p = 0.004). The length of stay of admissions was significantly higher among patients aged less than 1 year. (4) Conclusions: Rotavirus admission represents a heavy burden even in a high-income country such as Italy. These findings have the potential to inform targeted public health interventions, including vaccination strategies, and improve the overall well-being of children.

The Burden of HPV-Related Hospitalizations: Analysis of Hospital Discharge Records from the Years 2015-2021 from a Southern Italian Region.

(1) Background: The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common agent related to sexually transmitted infections in the general population. Its genotypes are classified into two main classes, high-risk genotypes and low-risk genotypes, according to their capacity to induce cancers. The low-risk class (types 6 and 11) is associated with anogenital and genital lesions. The high-risk class is responsible for up to 4.5% of all new cancer cases yearly. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of HPV-related hospitalizations and its trend in a southern Italian region for the years 2015-2021. (2) Methods: This was a retrospective study performed in the Abruzzo region, Italy. All admissions for the period 2015-2021 were extracted from the hospital discharge record (HDR). (3) Results: During the study period (2015-2021), a total of 5492 hospitalizations attributable to HPV infection occurred in the Abruzzo region, Italy. A significant number of admissions were related to cervical cancer (3386 cases) and genital warts (638 cases). The trend declined for all diagnoses except for penile cancer admissions. Considering the first year of the pandemic (year 2020), a decrease in the standardized incidence of the majority of the diseases considered was reported, particularly among cases of cervical cancer. (4) Conclusions: HPV-related hospitalizations decreased in Abruzzo during study period. These results could be useful to LHAs and policy-makers in improving vaccination coverage and screening adherence.

Reduction in Hospital Admissions for Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs) during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic: A Retrospective Study from a Southern Italian Region in the Year 2020.

(1) Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has indirect consequences for healthcare for other diseases, known as collateral damage. This situation heavily affects healthcare systems, causing changes in patterns of hospital admission. During the peak of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, numerous studies reported a reduction in admissions for acute coronary syndrome. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of admissions for cardiovascular diseases in Abruzzo, a region of Southern Italy, in the year 2020 and compare it to the two previous years (2018−2019). (2) Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in Abruzzo, Italy. The monthly number of admissions in the year 2020 was compared to a control period made from the average number of events that occurred in the previous two years (2018−2019). (3) Results: A global reduction in hospital admissions for all the cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) considered was observed. In particular, compared to the control period, in 2020, the number of admissions for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) was lower by 34 (hospitalization rate ratio, HRR, 0.93; p < 0.001), the number of non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarctions (N-STEMI) was lower by 154.5 (HRR 0.89; p < 0.001), the number for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) was 340 lower (HRR 0.90; p < 0.001) and the number for heart failure (HF) was 1424.5 lower than during the control period (HRR 0.73; p < 0.001). (4) Conclusions: The results of this study show the impact of COVID-19 on admissions for CVDs, suggesting the need for strategic measures to overcome the burden of hospitalizations in future years.

Mental health outcomes of the CoViD-19 pandemic.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (CoViD-19) caused by the novel Coronavirus strain SARS-CoV-2 is currently a pandemic. On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization declared that the CoViD-19 outbreak is a public health emergency of international concern. The virus has already had a direct impact on the physical health of million people, and besides, it is supposed to pose a mental health threat of great magnitude globally. This review aims at synthesizing mounting evidence concerning the immediate psychological responses during the initial stage of the CoViD-19 pandemic among the general population, the health-care workers, and clinical populations. Experts point out the need to pay specific attention to other groups at risk of further distress that may need tailored interventions. Providing psychological first aid is an essential care component for populations that have been victims of emergencies and disasters, before, during and after the event. With the aim of dealing better with the urgent psychological problems of people involved in the CoViD-19 pandemic, a new psychological crisis intervention model is needed. Given the recommendation to minimize face-to-face interaction, online mental health services have been widely adopted in China and are urged in other countries.