http://www.cdc.gov/eid/content/16/1/pdfs/09-0994.pdf
Hospitalizations for Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 among Maori and Pacific Islanders, New Zealand
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Community transmission of influenza A pandemic (H1N1) 2009 was followed by high rates of hospital admissions in the Wellington region of New Zealand, particularly among Maori and Pacific Islanders. These findings may help health authorities anticipate the effects of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in other communities.
Testing for pandemic (H1N1) 2009 began on April 24, 2009, and local community transmission was detected in the Wellington region early in June. During June 8?August 31, pandemic (H1N1) 2009 was identified in 229 hospitalized case-patients. Hospitalizations began in June, peaked in July, and then declined rapidly (Figure 1). The mean age of admitted persons was 26 years (range 0?82 years); 62% were <30 years of age. A total of 117 (51%) admissions were under adult medical services, 79 (34%), under pediatric medical services, and 15 (7%), under obstetric services. Mean duration of admission was 6.1 days (range 0?24 days) and 111 (48%) patients stayed in hospital for <72 hours (Figure 2). Nineteen (8%) case-patients were admitted to intensive care or high dependency units for at least 1 night. Five (2%) case-patients died during their hospital stay; all of these deaths were attributed to pandemic (H1N1) 2009.
Seventy-four (32%) case-patients were NZ European, 70 (31%) were Maori, 64 (28%) were Pacific Islanders, 17 (7%) were other, and 4 (2%) were unspecified. The rate of admission for NZ Europeans in the Wellington region was 25.6 per 100,000. Age-adjusted rates for Pacific Islanders and Maori were 180 and 128 per 100,000, respectively.
Our study shows that Pacific Islanders and Maori were 7 and 5 times more likely, respectively, than NZ Europeans to require hospital admission. These findings are consistent with observations from previous influenza epidemics. During the 1918 pandemic, the death rate was 7-fold higher in Maori than in the NZ Europeans (7). In Samoa in 1918, 80% of the population was considered infected, and 7,264 died from a total population of 36,405 (8). Other indigenous communities, such as Aboriginals in Australia and Inuit in Canada, also appear to have higher rates of severe influenza-related illness (9).
Hospitalizations for Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 among Maori and Pacific Islanders, New Zealand
free full text
excerpt :
Community transmission of influenza A pandemic (H1N1) 2009 was followed by high rates of hospital admissions in the Wellington region of New Zealand, particularly among Maori and Pacific Islanders. These findings may help health authorities anticipate the effects of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in other communities.
Testing for pandemic (H1N1) 2009 began on April 24, 2009, and local community transmission was detected in the Wellington region early in June. During June 8?August 31, pandemic (H1N1) 2009 was identified in 229 hospitalized case-patients. Hospitalizations began in June, peaked in July, and then declined rapidly (Figure 1). The mean age of admitted persons was 26 years (range 0?82 years); 62% were <30 years of age. A total of 117 (51%) admissions were under adult medical services, 79 (34%), under pediatric medical services, and 15 (7%), under obstetric services. Mean duration of admission was 6.1 days (range 0?24 days) and 111 (48%) patients stayed in hospital for <72 hours (Figure 2). Nineteen (8%) case-patients were admitted to intensive care or high dependency units for at least 1 night. Five (2%) case-patients died during their hospital stay; all of these deaths were attributed to pandemic (H1N1) 2009.
Seventy-four (32%) case-patients were NZ European, 70 (31%) were Maori, 64 (28%) were Pacific Islanders, 17 (7%) were other, and 4 (2%) were unspecified. The rate of admission for NZ Europeans in the Wellington region was 25.6 per 100,000. Age-adjusted rates for Pacific Islanders and Maori were 180 and 128 per 100,000, respectively.
Our study shows that Pacific Islanders and Maori were 7 and 5 times more likely, respectively, than NZ Europeans to require hospital admission. These findings are consistent with observations from previous influenza epidemics. During the 1918 pandemic, the death rate was 7-fold higher in Maori than in the NZ Europeans (7). In Samoa in 1918, 80% of the population was considered infected, and 7,264 died from a total population of 36,405 (8). Other indigenous communities, such as Aboriginals in Australia and Inuit in Canada, also appear to have higher rates of severe influenza-related illness (9).