Counting pandemic deaths: comparing reported numbers of deaths from influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 with estimated excess mortality. Issue 6 (8th June 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gran, Jon Michael; Kacelnik, Oliver; Grjibovski, Andrei M.; Aavitsland, Preben; Iversen, Bjørn G.
• Is Part Of: Influenza and other respiratory viruses. Volume 7:Issue 6(2013:Nov.)
• Page Start: 1370
• Page End: 1379
• Publication Date: 2013-06-08
• Subjects: Influenza -- Periodicals; Respiratory infections -- Periodicals; Virus diseases -- Periodicals; Influenza, Human -- Periodicals; Respiratory Tract Diseases -- Periodicals; Virus Diseases -- Periodicals; Grippe -- Périodiques; Appareil respiratoire -- Infections -- Périodiques; Maladies à virus -- Périodiques; 616.203
• DOI: 10.1111/irv.12125
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1750-2640

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="irv12125-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="irv12125-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>During the wave 1 of the influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus, Norway appeared to be suffering from high mortality rates. However, by the end of the pandemic, it was widely reported that the number of deaths were much lower than previous years.</p> </sec> <sec id="irv12125-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Objectives</title> <p>The mortality burden from influenza is often assessed by two different approaches: counting influenza‐certified deaths and estimating the mortality burden using models. The purpose of this study is to compare the number of reported deaths with results from two different models for estimating excess mortality during the pandemic in Norway. Additionally, mortality estimates for the pandemic season are compared with non‐pandemic influenza seasons.</p> </sec> <sec id="irv12125-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Numbers on reported influenza A(N1h1)pdm09 deaths are gived by the Cause of Death Registry at Statistics Norway and an ad hoc registry at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. Overall and Pnemumonia and Influenza certified mortality is modeled using Poission regression, adjusting for levels of reported influenza‐like illness and seasonal and year‐to‐year variation.</p> </sec> <sec id="irv12125-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Results and conclusions</title> <p>Modelling results suggest that the excess mortality in older age groups is considerably lower during the pandemic than non‐pandemic seasons, but there are indications of an excess beyond what was reported during the pandemic. This highlights the benefits of both methods and the importance of explaining where these numbers come from.</p> </sec> </abstract>