Monitoring the Impact of Influenza by Age in New York City
Author Information
Author(s): Donald R. Olson, Richard T. Heffernan, Marc Paladini, Kevin Konty, Don Weiss, Farzad Mostashari
Primary Institution: New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Hypothesis
How does age affect the impact of influenza on emergency department visits?
Conclusion
Influenza-related morbidity in NYC was highly age- and strain-specific, with school-aged children being the most affected group during certain epidemics.
Supporting Evidence
- Excess fever and respiratory ED visits were highest among school-aged children during influenza epidemics.
- Influenza morbidity surveillance using electronic data can provide timely information about age-specific epidemiology.
- ED visits for fever and respiratory symptoms can serve as an early indicator of influenza outbreaks.
Takeaway
This study looked at how many kids and adults went to the hospital because of the flu in New York City. It found that kids often got sick first when the flu was going around.
Methodology
The study analyzed emergency department visits for fever and respiratory complaints in NYC from 2001 to 2006, correlating these with viral surveillance data.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to underreporting of cases and reliance on chief complaint data, which may not accurately reflect the underlying illness.
Limitations
The study is limited by the reliance on electronic health data, which may not capture all cases, and the short duration of data collection.
Participant Demographics
The study focused on emergency department visits across various age groups in New York City.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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