Assessing the severity of influenza: a role for longitudinal telephone surveys?. Issue 16 (15th December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pebody, R. G.; Boddington, N. L.; Green, H. K.; Bolotin, S.; Charlett, A.; Watson, J. M.
• Is Part Of: Epidemiology and infection. Volume 146:Issue 16(2018)
• Page Start: 2042
• Page End: 2048
• Publication Date: 2018-12-15
• Subjects: Epidemiology, -- pneumococci, -- vaccine policy development, -- vaccine preventable diseases, -- vaccines; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Epidemiology -- Periodicals; 614.4
• DOI: 10.1017/S0950268818002261
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0950-2688

Abstract

Abstract: During the 2009 influenza pandemic, a rapid assessment of disease severity was a challenge as a significant proportion of cases did not seek medical care; care-seeking behaviour changed and the proportion asymptomatic was unknown. A random-digit-dialling telephone survey was undertaken during the 2011/12 winter season in England and Wales to address the feasibility of answering these questions. A proportional quota sampling strategy was employed based on gender, age group, geographical location, employment status and level of education. Households were recruited pre-season and re-contacted immediately following peak seasonal influenza activity. The pre-peak survey was undertaken in October 2011 with 1061 individuals recruited and the post-peak telephone survey in March 2012. Eight hundred and thirty-four of the 1061 (78.6%) participants were successfully re-contacted. Their demographic characteristics compared well to national census data. In total, 8.4% of participants self-reported an influenza-like illness (ILI) in the previous 2 weeks, with 3.2% conforming to the World Health Organization (WHO) ILI case definition. In total, 29.6% of the cases reported consulting their general practitioner. 54.1% of the 1061 participants agreed to be re-contacted about providing biological samples. A population-based cohort was successfully recruited and followed up. Longitudinal survey methodology provides a practical tool to assess disease severity during future pandemics.