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BMJ:Mortality from pandemic A/H1N1 2009 influenza in England: public health surveillance study

german-docter

Well-known member
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/reprint/339/dec10_1/b5213.pdf


BMJ:

Mortality from pandemic A/H1N1 2009 influenza in England: public health surveillance study

Liam J Donaldson, chief medical officer for England,1 Paul D Rutter, clinical adviser,1 Benjamin M Ellis, clinical adviser,1 Felix E C Greaves, clinical adviser,1 Oliver T Mytton, clinical adviser,1 Richard G Pebody, consultant medical epidemiologist,2 Iain E Yardley, clinical adviser1

ABSTRACT

Objective
To establish mortality from pandemic A/H1N1 2009 influenza up to 8 November 2009.

Design
Investigation of all reported deaths related to pandemic A/H1N1 in England.

Setting
Mandatory reporting systems established in acute hospitals and primary care.

Participants
Physicians responsible for the patient.

Main outcome measures
Numbers of deaths from influenza combined with mid-range estimates of numbers of cases of influenza to calculate age specific case fatality rates. Underlying conditions, time course of illness, and antiviral treatment.

Results
With the official mid-range estimate for incidence of pandemic A/H1N1, the overall estimated case fatality rate was 26 (range 11-66) per 100 000. It was lowest for children aged 5-14 (11 (range 3-36) per 100 000) and highest for those aged ≥65 (980 (range 300-3200) per 100 000). In the 138 people in whom the confirmed cause of death was pandemic A/H1N1, the median age was 39 (interquartile range 17-57). Two thirds of patients who died (92, 67%) would now be eligible for the first phase of vaccination in England. Fifty (36%) had no, or only mild, pre-existing illness. Most patients (108, 78%) had been prescribed antiviral drugs, but of these, 82 (76%) did not receive them within the first 48 hours of illness.

Conclusions
Viewed statistically, mortality in this pandemic compares favourably with 20th century influenza pandemics. A lower population impact than previous pandemics, however, is not a justification for public health inaction. Our data support the priority vaccination of high risk groups. We observed delayed antiviral use in most fatal cases, which suggests an opportunity to reduce deaths by making timely antiviral treatment available, although the lack of a control group limits the ability to extrapolate from this observation. Given that a substantial minority of deaths occur in previously healthy people, there is a case for extending the vaccination programme and for continuing to make early antiviral treatment widely available.

http://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/health..._Influenza_AH1N1_Situation_Report_0900hrs.pdf

ECDC DAILY UPDATE
Pandemic (H1N1) 2009
11 December 2009 9.00 CEST
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Mortality from pandemic A/H1N1 2009 influenza in England: public health surveillance study
Donaldson L, Rutter P, Ellis B et al. British Medical Journal; 339:b5213; 10 December 2009

Available from:

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/339/dec10_1/b5213

This article reports the first results of a large (n = 138) investigation of all reported deaths related to pandemic H1N1 2009 in England. It finds that 36% had no, or only mild, pre-existing illness. Most patients 78% had eventually been prescribed antiviral drugs, but of these 76% did not receive them within the first 48 hours of illness. Two thirds would have been eligible for vaccination in the UK. The authors estimate an overall estimated case fatality rate of 26 (range 11-66) per 100 000. It was lowest for children aged 5-14 (11 (range 3-36) per 100 000) and highest for those aged 65 (980 (range 300-3200) per 100 000).
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