Risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, hospitalization and death for COVID-19 in people with Parkinson's disease or parkinsonism over a 15-month period: a cohort study

• Published in: European journal of neurology
• Main Authors: Zenesini, Corrado, Vignatelli, Luca, Belotti, Laura Maria Beatrice, Baccari, Flavia, Calandra-Buonaura, Giovanna, Cortelli, Pietro, Descovich, Carlo, Giannini, Giulia, Guaraldi, Pietro, Guarino, Maria, Loddo, Giuseppe, Pantieri, Roberta, Perlangeli, Vincenza, Scaglione, Cesa, Stivanello, Elisa, Trombetti, Susanna, D'Alessandro, Roberto, Baldin, Elisa, Nonino, Francesco
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 16.07.2022
• Subjects: COVID-19; cohort studies; frail elderly; parkinsonism; Parkinson’s disease
• ISSN: 1468-1331
• DOI: 10.1111/ene.15505

The patterns of long term risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, hospitalization for COVID-19 and related death are uncertain in people with Parkinson's disease (PD) or parkinsonism (PS). The aim of the study was to quantify these risks compared to a control population cohort, during the period March 2020-May 2021, in Bologna, northern Italy. ParkLink Bologna cohort (759 PD; 192 PS) and controls (9,226) anonymously matched (ratio 1:10) for sex, age, district, comorbidity were included. Data were analysed in the whole period and in the two different pandemic waves (March-May 2020 and October 2020-May 2021). Adjusted hazard ratio of SARS-CoV-2 infection was 1.3 (95% CI 1.04-1.7) in PD and 1.9 (1.3-2.8) in PS compared to the controls. The trend was detected in both the pandemic waves. Adjusted hazard ratio of hospitalization for COVID-19 was 1.1 (95% CI 0.8-1.7) in PD and 1.8 (95% CI 0.97-3.1) in PS. A higher risk of hospital admission was detected in PS only in the first wave. The 30-day mortality risk after hospitalization was higher (p=0.048) in PS (58%) than in PD (19%) and controls (26%). Compared with controls, after adjustment for key covariates, people with PD and PS showed a higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection throughout the first 15 months of the pandemic. COVID-19 hospitalization risk was increased only in people with PS and only during the first wave. This group of patients was burdened by a very high risk of death after infection and hospitalization.