A descriptive analysis of COVID-19 associated mortality in Parma Province: concordance between official national mortality register provided by ISTAT (National Institute of Statistics) and local ADS (Automated Data System) real-time surveillance flow.

The survey suggests that the ADS surveillance system may have overestimated the COVID-19 mortality data compared to the ISTAT flow. The ADS has been valuable in the immediate response to emergencies, providing a more sensitive system that prioritizes the precautionary principle and enables decisions aimed at minimizing risks for vulnerable populations. However, it is not recommended for routine surveillance, as it is less reliable compared to the ISTAT flow.