Trends in Hospitalizations for Congenital Cytomegalovirus in Australia
Author Information
Author(s): Holly Seale, Robert Booy, C Raina MacIntyre
Primary Institution: University of New South Wales
Hypothesis
What are the trends in hospital admissions for congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) in infants and children in Australia?
Conclusion
Congenital CMV poses a significant burden compared to other congenital illnesses, and a vaccination program would be justifiable if a vaccine becomes available.
Supporting Evidence
- Over an 8-year period, there were 1314 admissions for congenital CMV disease.
- The average annual rate of admissions for children aged 0-4 years was 9.40 per 100,000.
- The rate of admissions peaked in 1996-1997 at 5.7 cases per 100,000.
Takeaway
This study looked at how many kids in Australia go to the hospital because of a virus called CMV, which can cause serious problems. It found that a lot of kids are affected, and having a vaccine could help.
Methodology
A retrospective analysis of hospital discharge records from 1993 to 2001 was conducted using data from the National Hospital Morbidity Database.
Potential Biases
There may be bias in the data due to reliance on hospital records, which could miss cases not requiring hospitalization.
Limitations
The study relied on hospital discharge data, which may not accurately reflect the true burden of disease due to potential coding inconsistencies and inability to track recurrent admissions.
Participant Demographics
Children aged 0-14 years, with a significant number of admissions for infants aged less than 1 month.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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