• FluTrackers.com Inc. does not provide medical advice. Information on this web site is collected from various internet resources, and the FluTrackers board of directors makes no warranty to the safety, efficacy, correctness or completeness of the information posted on this site by any author or poster. The information collated here is for instructional and/or discussion purposes only and is NOT intended to diagnose or treat any disease, illness, or other medical condition. Every individual reader or poster should seek advice from their personal physician/healthcare practitioner before considering or using any interventions that are discussed on this website. By continuing to access this website you agree to consult your personal physican before using any interventions posted on this website, and you agree to hold harmless FluTrackers.com Inc., the board of directors, the members, and all authors and posters for any effects from use of any medication, supplement, vitamin or other substance, device, intervention, etc. mentioned in posts on this website, or other internet venues referenced in posts on this website.
  • We are not asking for any donations. Do not donate to any entity who says they are raising funds for us.

Influenza-like illness-related emergency department visits: Christmas and New Year holiday peaks and relationships with laboratory-confirmed respirato

tetano

Editor, Senior Moderator
Influenza Other Respir Viruses. 2016 Jul 21. doi: 10.1111/irv.12416. [Epub ahead of print]
[h=1]Influenza-like illness-related emergency department visits: Christmas and New Year holiday peaks and relationships with laboratory-confirmed respiratory virus detections, Edmonton, Alberta, 2004-2014.[/h] Martin LJ[SUP]1[/SUP], Im C[SUP]1[/SUP], Dong H[SUP]1[/SUP], Lee BE[SUP]2[/SUP], Talbot J[SUP]3[/SUP], Meurer DP[SUP]4[/SUP], Mukhi SN[SUP]5[/SUP], Drews SJ[SUP]6,[/SUP][SUP]7[/SUP], Yasui Y[SUP]1[/SUP].
[h=3]Author information[/h]

[h=3]Abstract[/h] [h=4]BACKGROUND:[/h] Emergency department (ED) visit volumes can be especially high during the Christmas-New Year holidays, a period occurring during the influenza season in Canada.
[h=4]METHODS:[/h] Using daily data, we examined the relationship between ED visits for the chief complaint "cough" (for Edmonton, Alberta residents) and laboratory detections for influenza A and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (for Edmonton and surrounding areas), lagged 0-5 days ahead, for non-pandemic years (2004-2008 and 2010-2014) using multivariable linear regression adjusting for temporal variables. We defined these cough-related visits as influenza-like illness (ILI)-related ED visits and, for 2004-2014, compared Christmas-New Year holiday (December 24-January 3) and non-holiday volumes during the influenza season (October-April).
[h=4]RESULTS:[/h] Adjusting for temporal variables, ILI-related ED visits were significantly associated with laboratory detections for influenza A and RSV. During non-pandemic years, the highest peak in ILI-related visit volumes always occurred during the holidays. The median number of holiday ILI-related visits/day (42.5) was almost twice the non-holiday median (24) and was even higher in 2012-2013 (80) and 2013-2014 (86). Holiday ILI-related ED visit volumes/100000 population ranged from 56.0 (2010-2011) to 117.4 (2012-2013). In contrast, lower visit volumes occurred during the holidays of pandemic-affected years (2008-2010).
[h=4]CONCLUSIONS:[/h] During non-pandemic years, ILI-related ED visit volumes were associated with variations in detections for influenza A and RSV and always peaked during the Christmas-New Year holidays. This predictability should be used to prepare for, and possibly prevent, this increase in healthcare use; however, interventions beyond disease prevention strategies are likely needed. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.


PMID: 27442911 DOI: 10.1111/irv.12416
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
 
Back
Top Bottom