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AJPH First Look, published online ahead of print Sep 23, 2010
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American Journal of Public Health, 10.2105/AJPH.2009.168245
Research and Practice
Detection of Excess Influenza Severity: Associating Respiratory Hospitalization and Mortality Data With Reports of Influenza-Like Illness by Primary Care Physicians
Cees C. van den Wijngaard 1*, Liselotte van Asten 2, Adam Meijer 2, Wilfrid van Pelt 2, Nico J.D. Nagelkerke 3, G? A. Donker 4, Marianne A.B. van der Sande 2, Marion P.G. Koopmans 2
1 National Institute for Public Health and the Environment
2 National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, the Netherlands
3 United Arab Emirates University, United Arab Emirates
4 Netherlands Institute of Health Services Research, Utrecht, the Netherlands
Objectives. We explored whether excesses in influenza severity can be detected by combining respiratory syndromic hospital and mortality data with data on influenza-like illness (ILI) cases obtained from general practitioners.
Methods. To identify excesses in the severity of influenza infections in the population of the Netherlands between 1999 and 2005, we looked for increases in influenza-associated hospitalizations and mortality that were disproportionate to the number of ILI cases reported by general practitioners. We used generalized estimating equation regression models to associate syndromic hospital and mortality data with ILI surveillance data obtained from general practitioners. Virus isolation and antigenic characterization data were used to interpret the results.
Results. Disproportionate increases in hospitalizations and mortality (relative to ILI cases reported by general practitioners) were identified in 2003/04 during the A/Fujian/411/02 (H3N2) drift variant epidemic.
Conclusions. Combined surveillance of respiratory hospitalizations and mortality and ILI data obtained from general practitioners can capture increases in severe influenza-associated illness that are disproportionate to influenza incidence rates. Therefore, this novel approach should complement traditional seasonal and pandemic influenza surveillance in efforts to detect increases in influenza case fatality rates and percentages of patients hospitalized. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print September 23, 2010: e1?e7. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2009.168245)
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American Journal of Public Health, 10.2105/AJPH.2009.168245
Research and Practice
Detection of Excess Influenza Severity: Associating Respiratory Hospitalization and Mortality Data With Reports of Influenza-Like Illness by Primary Care Physicians
Cees C. van den Wijngaard 1*, Liselotte van Asten 2, Adam Meijer 2, Wilfrid van Pelt 2, Nico J.D. Nagelkerke 3, G? A. Donker 4, Marianne A.B. van der Sande 2, Marion P.G. Koopmans 2
1 National Institute for Public Health and the Environment
2 National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, the Netherlands
3 United Arab Emirates University, United Arab Emirates
4 Netherlands Institute of Health Services Research, Utrecht, the Netherlands
Objectives. We explored whether excesses in influenza severity can be detected by combining respiratory syndromic hospital and mortality data with data on influenza-like illness (ILI) cases obtained from general practitioners.
Methods. To identify excesses in the severity of influenza infections in the population of the Netherlands between 1999 and 2005, we looked for increases in influenza-associated hospitalizations and mortality that were disproportionate to the number of ILI cases reported by general practitioners. We used generalized estimating equation regression models to associate syndromic hospital and mortality data with ILI surveillance data obtained from general practitioners. Virus isolation and antigenic characterization data were used to interpret the results.
Results. Disproportionate increases in hospitalizations and mortality (relative to ILI cases reported by general practitioners) were identified in 2003/04 during the A/Fujian/411/02 (H3N2) drift variant epidemic.
Conclusions. Combined surveillance of respiratory hospitalizations and mortality and ILI data obtained from general practitioners can capture increases in severe influenza-associated illness that are disproportionate to influenza incidence rates. Therefore, this novel approach should complement traditional seasonal and pandemic influenza surveillance in efforts to detect increases in influenza case fatality rates and percentages of patients hospitalized. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print September 23, 2010: e1?e7. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2009.168245)
