Epidemiology and Biostatistics Publications

Covid-19 and clinical-epidemiological research in Italy: proposal of a research agenda on priority topics by the Italian association of epidemiology

Authors

Giovannino Ciccone, Azienda Ospedaliera - Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino
Silvia Deandrea, Dipartimento di igiene e prevenzione sanitaria
Antonio Clavenna, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri
Ursula Kirchmayer, Dipartimento di epidemiologia del Servizio sanitario regionale
Vittorio Simeon, Statistica Medica
Anna Acampora, Dipartimento di epidemiologia del Servizio sanitario regionale
Nerina Agabiti, Dipartimento di epidemiologia del Servizio sanitario regionale
Laura Angelici, Dipartimento di epidemiologia del Servizio sanitario regionale
Roita Banzi, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri
Ennio Cadum, Dipartimento di igiene e prevenzione sanitaria
Anna Castiglione, Azienda Ospedaliera - Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino
Paolo Chiodini, Azienda Ospedaliera - Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino
Cinzia Colombo, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri
Eliana Ferroni, Servizio epidemiologico regionale e registri - Azienda Zero
Enrica Migliore, Azienda Ospedaliera - Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino
Lorenza Nisticò, Istituto superiore di sanità
Eva Pagano, Azienda Ospedaliera - Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino
Anna Maria Sabelli
Carlotta Sacerdote, Azienda Ospedaliera - Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino
Caterina Silvestri, Agenzia regionale di sanità della Toscana
Salvatore Soldati, Dipartimento di epidemiologia del Servizio sanitario regionale
Saverio Stranges, Schulich School of Medicine & DentistryFollow
Marcello Tirani, Dipartimento di igiene e prevenzione sanitaria
Marina Davoli, Dipartimento di epidemiologia del Servizio sanitario regionale
Claudia Galassi, Azienda Ospedaliera - Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino
Francesco Forastiere, Consiglio nazionale delle ricerche

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-1-2020

Journal

Epidemiologia e prevenzione

Volume

44

Issue

56

First Page

51

Last Page

59

URL with Digital Object Identifier

10.19191/EP20.5-6.S2.103

Abstract

BACKGROUND: the Covid-19 pandemic has provoked a huge of clinical and epidemiological research initiatives, especially in the most involved countries. However, this very large effort was characterized by several methodological weaknesses, both in the field of discovering effective treatments (with too many small and uncontrolled trials) and in the field of identifying preventable risks and prognostic factors (with too few large, representative and well-designed cohorts or case-control studies). OBJECTIVES: in response to the fragmented and uncoordinated research production on Covid-19, the italian Association of Epidemiology (AIE) stimulated the formation of a working group (WG) with the aims of identifying the most important gaps in knowledge and to propose a structured research agenda of clinical and epidemiological studies considered at high priority on Covid-19, including recommendations on the preferable methodology. METHODS: the WG was composed by 25 subjects, mainly epidemiologists, statisticians, and other experts in specific fields, who have voluntarily agreed to the proposal. The agreement on a list of main research questions and on the structure of the specific documents to be produced were defined through few meetings and cycles of document exchanges. RESULTS: twelve main research questions on Covid-19 were identified, covering aetiology, prognosis, interventions, follow-up and impact on general and specific populations (children, pregnant women). For each of them, a two-page form was developed, structured in: background, main topics, methods (with recommendations on preferred study design and warnings for bias prevention) and an essential bibliography. CONCLUSIONS: this research agenda represents an initial contribution to direct clinical and epidemiological research efforts on high priority topics with a focus on methodological aspects. Further development and refinements of this agenda by Public Health Authorities are encouraged.

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