Age-specific SARS-CoV-2 infection fatality ratio and associated risk factors, Italy, February to April 2020

Euro Surveill. 2020 Aug;25(31):2001383. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.31.2001383.

Abstract

We analysed 5,484 close contacts of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in Italy, all tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Infection fatality ratio was 0.43% (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.21-0.79) for individuals younger than 70 years and 10.5% (95% CI: 8.0-13.6) for older individuals. Risk of death after infection was 62% lower (95% CI: 31-80) in clusters identified after 16 March 2020 and 1.8-fold higher for males (95% CI: 1.03-3.16).

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; comorbidities; infection fatality ratio; mortality.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Distribution
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Betacoronavirus
  • COVID-19
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Contact Tracing / statistics & numerical data*
  • Coronavirus Infections / diagnosis
  • Coronavirus Infections / mortality*
  • Coronavirus*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Italy / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pandemics / statistics & numerical data*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / diagnosis
  • Pneumonia, Viral / mortality*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / transmission
  • Risk Factors
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Young Adult