L'Istat, grazie alle sinergie attivate con il Ministero dell'Interno per l'acquisizione tempestiva dei dati ANPR è in grado di contribuire alla diffusione di informazioni utili alla comprensione della situazione legata all'emergenza sanitaria da COVID-19.L'utilizzo a fini statistici, e il relativo trattamento, delle informazioni che l'Istituto nazionale di statistica acquisisce dall'Anagrafe Nazionale della Popolazione Residente (ANPR), come previsto dal DPCM n.194/2014, permette di diffondere i dati relativi alla mortalità generale di una parte dei comuni subentrati nell'ANPR, che a oggi ammontano a 5.866, circa tre quarti del totale dei comuni italiani.

Aims To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patient admissions to Italian cardiac care units (CCUs). Methods and Results We conducted a multicentre, observational, nationwide survey to collect data on admissions for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) at Italian CCUs throughout a 1 week period during the COVID-19 outbreak, compared with the equivalent week in 2019. We observed a 48.4% reduction in admissions for AMI compared with the equivalent week in 2019 (P < 0.001). The reduction was significant for both ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction [STEMI; 26.5%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 21.7–32.3; P = 0.009] and non-STEMI (NSTEMI; 65.1%, 95% CI 60.3–70.3; P < 0.001). Among STEMIs, the reduction was higher for women (41.2%; P = 0.011) than men (17.8%; P = 0.191). A similar reduction in AMI admissions was registered in North Italy (52.1%), Central Italy (59.3%), and South Italy (52.1%). The STEMI case fatality rate during the pandemic was substantially increased compared with 2019 [risk ratio (RR) = 3.3, 95% CI 1.7–6.6; P < 0.001]. A parallel increase in complications was also registered (RR = 1.8, 95% CI 1.1–2.8; P = 0.009). Conclusion Admissions for AMI were significantly reduced during the COVID-19 pandemic across Italy, with a parallel increase in fatality and complication rates. This constitutes a serious social issue, demanding attention by the scientific and healthcare communities and public regulatory agencies.

Key Points Question What respiratory, functional, and psychological sequalae are associated with recovery from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)? Findings In this cohort study of 238 patients with COVID-19 hospitalized in an academic hospital in Northern Italy, more than half of participants had a significant reduction of diffusing lung capacity for carbon monoxide or measurable functional impairment and approximately one-fifth of patients had symptoms of posttraumatic stress 4 months after discharge. Meaning These findings suggest that despite virological recovery, a sizable proportion of patients with COVID-19 experienced respiratory, functional, or psychological sequelae months after hospital discharge.

The ARMYDA-ACS trial indicates that even short-term pretreatment with atorvastatin may improve outcomes in patients with ACS undergoing early invasive strategy. These findings may support routine use of high-dose statins before intervention in patients with ACS.

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Platelet reactivity assessment during thienopyridine-type P2Y12-inhibitors identifies PCI-treated patients at higher risk for mortality and ST (HPR) or at an elevated risk for bleeding (LPR).

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Background-Atrial fibrillation (AF) after cardiac surgery is associated with increased risk of complications, length of stay, and cost of care. Observational evidence suggests that patients who have undergone previous statin therapy have a lower incidence of postoperative AF. We tested this observation in a randomized, controlled trial. Methods and Results-Two hundred patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass, without previous statin treatment or history of AF, were enrolled. Patients were randomized to atorvastatin (40 mg/d, nϭ101) or placebo (nϭ99) starting 7 days before operation. The primary end point was incidence of postoperative AF; secondary end points were length of stay, 30-day major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events, and postoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) variations. Atorvastatin significantly reduced the incidence of AF versus placebo (35% versus 57%, Pϭ0.003). Accordingly, length of stay was longer in the placebo versus atorvastatin arm (6.9Ϯ1.4 versus 6.3Ϯ1.2 days, Pϭ0.001). Peak CRP levels were lower in patients without AF (Pϭ0.01), irrespective of randomization assignment. Multivariable analysis showed that atorvastatin treatment conferred a 61% reduction in risk of AF (odds ratio 0.39, 95% confidence interval 0.18 to 0.85, Pϭ0.017), whereas high postoperative CRP levels were associated with increased risk (odds ratio 2.0, 95% confidence interval 1.2 to 7.0, Pϭ0.01). The incidence of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events at 30 days was similar in the 2 arms. Conclusions-Treatment with atorvastatin 40 mg/d, initiated 7 days before surgery, significantly reduces the incidence of postoperative AF after elective cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass and shortens hospital stay. These results may influence practice patterns with regard to adjuvant pharmacological therapy before cardiac surgery.