Estimating the burden of influenza‐associated hospitalizations and deaths in Central America. Issue 4 (29th March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Descalzo, Miguel A.; Clara, Wilfrido; Guzmán, Guiselle; Mena, Ricardo; Armero, Julio; Lara, Bredy; Saenz, Carlos; Aragón, Anabela; Chacón, Rafael; El‐Omeiri, Nathalie; Méndez‐Rico, Jairo; Cerpa, Mauricio; Palekar, Rakhee; Jara, Jorge; Azziz‐Baumgartner, Eduardo
• Is Part Of: Influenza and other respiratory viruses. Volume 10:Issue 4(2016)
• Page Start: 340
• Page End: 345
• Publication Date: 2016-03-29
• Subjects: America -- burden of disease -- hospitalizations -- influenza -- meta‐analysis -- mortality -- multiplier model; 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.12385
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1750-2640

Abstract

Abstract : Objectives: Our objective was to estimate the incidence of influenza‐associated hospitalizations and in‐hospital deaths in Central American Region. Design and setting: We used hospital discharge records, influenza surveillance virology data, and population projections collected from Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua to estimate influenza‐associated hospitalizations and in‐hospital deaths. We performed a meta‐analysis of influenza‐associated hospitalizations and in‐hospital deaths. Main outcome measures: The highest annual incidence was observed among children aged <5 years (136 influenza‐associated hospitalizations per 100 000 persons). Results: Annually, 7 625–11 289 influenza‐associated hospitalizations and 352–594 deaths occurred in the subregion. Conclusions: Our results suggest that a substantive number of persons are annually hospitalized because of influenza. Health officials should estimate how many illnesses could be averted through increased influenza vaccination.