The Increase of Chronic Diseases Death During Covid-19 Outbreak in Italy: The Effect of Vaccinations

Abstract

Background: In Italy Covid-19 increased the Standardized Death Rate (SDR) of some chronic diseases Objective: to assess the modification of chronic diseases SDR due to Covid-19 in 2020 and in 2021 following the first year of vaccination in the 20 Italian Regions. Methods: The SDR of 59 most common diseases was analyzed according to the data recorded by ISTAT (Istituto Italiano di Statistica) in the 20 Italian Regions. The period between 2017 and 2021 was considered. The differences among years were calculated according to the ANOVA and Tukey test calculation. Results: The SDR of only 14 diseases was modified during the Covid-19 outbreak. For 8 diseases it increased: type II diabetes, other metabolic illnesses, blood disorders, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, other neurological diseases, genito-urinary and not definable diseases. No differences were found in 4 diseases: mental disorders, cerebrovascular, myocardial and respiratory diseases. A significant decrease was shown for infection and parasitic diseases and malignant cancers. The total of SDR in 2019 was 82.1 ± 5.66 x 10⁴ while in 2020 and 2021 was respectively 92.8 ± 7.25 and 89.7 ± 6.84 x 10⁴. Vaccinations in 2021 were effective only in reducing Alzheimer’s, myocardial and respiratory diseases. Conclusions: Covid-19 outbreak in 2020 was increasing deaths in subjects suffering from type II diabetes, other metabolic, blood disorders, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, other neurological, genito-urinary, and not definable diseases. The vaccinations were flattening only the Alzheimer’s, myocardial and respiratory diseases.