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Epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Italy Using Real-World Data: Methodology and Cohort Description of the Second Phase of Web-Based EPICOVID19 Study

Author

Listed:
  • Fulvio Adorni

    (National Research Council, Institute of Biomedical Technologies, Via Fratelli Cervi 93, 20054 Segrate, Italy)

  • Nithiya Jesuthasan

    (National Research Council, Institute of Biomedical Technologies, Via Fratelli Cervi 93, 20054 Segrate, Italy)

  • Elena Perdixi

    (National Research Council, Institute of Biomedical Technologies, Via Fratelli Cervi 93, 20054 Segrate, Italy)

  • Aleksandra Sojic

    (National Research Council, Institute of Biomedical Technologies, Via Fratelli Cervi 93, 20054 Segrate, Italy)

  • Andrea Giacomelli

    (Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences L. Sacco, Università di Milano, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, 20157 Milan, Italy)

  • Marianna Noale

    (National Research Council, Neuroscience Institute, Aging Branch, Via Vincenzo Maria Gallucci 16, 35128 Padova, Italy)

  • Caterina Trevisan

    (Geriatric Unit, Department of Medicine (DIMED), University of Padova, Via Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padova, Italy
    Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Aldo Moro 8, Cona, 44124 Ferrara, Italy)

  • Michela Franchini

    (National Research Council, Institute of Clinical Physiology, Via G. Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy)

  • Stefania Pieroni

    (National Research Council, Institute of Clinical Physiology, Via G. Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy)

  • Liliana Cori

    (National Research Council, Institute of Clinical Physiology, Via G. Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy)

  • Claudio Maria Mastroianni

    (Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy)

  • Fabrizio Bianchi

    (National Research Council, Institute of Clinical Physiology, Via G. Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy)

  • Raffaele Antonelli-Incalzi

    (Unit of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, Biomedical Campus of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy)

  • Stefania Maggi

    (National Research Council, Neuroscience Institute, Aging Branch, Via Vincenzo Maria Gallucci 16, 35128 Padova, Italy)

  • Massimo Galli

    (Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences L. Sacco, Università di Milano, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, 20157 Milan, Italy)

  • Federica Prinelli

    (National Research Council, Institute of Biomedical Technologies, Via Fratelli Cervi 93, 20054 Segrate, Italy)

  • on behalf of the EPICOVID19 Working Group

    (Membership of the EPICOVID19 Working Group is provided in the Supplementary Material.)

Abstract

Digital technologies have been extensively employed in response to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic worldwide. This study describes the methodology of the two-phase internet-based EPICOVID19 survey, and the characteristics of the adult volunteer respondents who lived in Italy during the first (April–May 2020) and the second wave (January–February 2021) of the epidemic. Validated scales and ad hoc questionnaires were used to collect socio-demographic, medical and behavioural characteristics, as well as information on COVID-19. Among those who provided email addresses during phase I (105,355), 41,473 participated in phase II (mean age 50.7 years ± 13.5 SD, 60.6% females). After a median follow-up of ten months, 52.8% had undergone nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) testing and 13.2% had a positive result. More than 40% had undergone serological test (ST) and 11.9% were positive. Out of the 2073 participants with at least one positive ST, 72.8% had only negative results from NPS or never performed it. These results indicate that a large fraction of individuals remained undiagnosed, possibly contributing to the spread of the virus in the community. Participatory online surveys offer a unique opportunity to collect relevant data at individual level from large samples during confinement.

Suggested Citation

  • Fulvio Adorni & Nithiya Jesuthasan & Elena Perdixi & Aleksandra Sojic & Andrea Giacomelli & Marianna Noale & Caterina Trevisan & Michela Franchini & Stefania Pieroni & Liliana Cori & Claudio Maria Mas, 2022. "Epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Italy Using Real-World Data: Methodology and Cohort Description of the Second Phase of Web-Based EPICOVID19 Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-16, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:3:p:1274-:d:731891
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Juan Yang & Xinhua Chen & Xiaowei Deng & Zhiyuan Chen & Hui Gong & Han Yan & Qianhui Wu & Huilin Shi & Shengjie Lai & Marco Ajelli & Cecile Viboud & Prof Hongjie Yu, 2020. "Disease burden and clinical severity of the first pandemic wave of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Trevisan, Caterina & Pedone, Claudio & Maggi, Stefania & Noale, Marianna & Di Bari, Mauro & Sojic, Aleksandra & Molinaro, Sabrina & Giacomelli, Andrea & Bianchi, Fabrizio & Tavio, Marcello & Rusconi, , 2021. "Accessibility to SARS-CoV-2 swab test during the Covid-19 pandemic: Did age make the difference?," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 125(12), pages 1580-1586.
    3. Liliana Cori & Olivia Curzio & Fulvio Adorni & Federica Prinelli & Marianna Noale & Caterina Trevisan & Loredana Fortunato & Andrea Giacomelli & Fabrizio Bianchi, 2021. "Fear of COVID-19 for Individuals and Family Members: Indications from the National Cross-Sectional Study of the EPICOVID19 Web-Based Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-20, March.
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