West Nile neuroinvasive disease (WNND) is the most dangerous outcome of West Nile virus (WNV) infection in humans. We aimed to find variables associated with WNND diagnosis, hospitalisation or death, to identify high-risk sub-groups of the population, on whom to concentrate preventive strategies. We used data from The European Surveillance System – TESSy, provided by National Public Health Authorities, and released by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). In two Firth-penalised logistic regression models, we considered age, sex, clinical criteria, epidemiological link to other cases (epi-link), calendar year, and season as potential associated variables. 2,916 WNND cases were registered, of which 2,081 (71.4%), and 383 (13.1%) resulted in the hospitalisation and death of the patient, respectively. Calendar year, RUC/country, age, sex, clinical criteria, and epi-link were associated with WNND diagnosis. Hospitalisation was associated with calendar year and RUC/country; death was associated with age, sex and country. Our results support previous findings on WNND associated variables (e.g., age and sex); while by observing the whole population of WNND cases in the considered area and period, they also allow for stronger generalizations, conversely to the majority of previous studies, which used sample populations.
RICCETTI Nicola;
FERRACCIOLI Federico;
FASANO Augusto;
STILIANAKIS Nikolaos;
2023-09-29
PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE
JRC131931
1932-6203 (online),
https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC131931,
10.1371/journal.pone.0292187 (online),
