Using Database Searches to Detect Infectious Disease Epidemics
Author Information
Author(s): Vesa Jormanainen, Jukkapekka Jousimaa, Ilkka Kunnamo, Petri Ruutu
Primary Institution: Finnish Defence Forces, University of Helsinki, University of Kuopio, Finnish Medical Society Duodecim, National Public Health Institute
Hypothesis
The frequency of physician searches in a popular database could be useful as a complementary tool in early recognition of infectious disease epidemics.
Conclusion
Continuous monitoring of database searches for specific infections could be a novel tool for surveillance and detection of epidemics.
Supporting Evidence
- Monitoring database searches can provide timely recognition of an epidemic.
- Physicians are likely to use searches to seek guidance for diagnostics and management of unusual clusters.
- The PDRD had 3,500 subscribers in 1999, a sevenfold increase from 1995.
- Search-frequency-based surveillance can provide an effective early warning for infectious diseases.
Takeaway
Doctors can use search data from a medical database to help spot disease outbreaks early, even before lab tests confirm them.
Methodology
We analyzed retrospectively the use of Physician Desk Reference Database searches to identify epidemics and compared the searches with mandatory laboratory reports.
Limitations
Only a few users expressed negative attitudes towards data collection, and fewer than half of subscribers returned the data.
Participant Demographics
Physicians using the PDRD database in Finland.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
95% CI 0.60-0.75 for Lyme disease; 95% CI 2.42-2.70 for Pogosta disease; 95% CI 1.62-1.85 for epidemic nephropathy; 95% CI 0.83-1.00 for tularemia.
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