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. 2015 Feb;143(3):640-7.
doi: 10.1017/S0950268814001198. Epub 2014 May 15.

Estimated paediatric mortality associated with influenza virus infections, United States, 2003-2010

K K Wong  1 , P Cheng  2 , I Foppa  2 , S Jain  2 , A M Fry  2 , L Finelli  2
Affiliations

Estimated paediatric mortality associated with influenza virus infections, United States, 2003-2010

K K Wong et al. Epidemiol Infect. 2015 Feb.

Abstract

Death certificate reports and laboratory-confirmed influenza deaths probably underestimate paediatric deaths attributable to influenza. Using US mortality data for persons aged <18 years who died during 28 September 2003 to 2 October 2010, we estimated influenza-attributable deaths using a generalized linear regression model based on seasonal covariates, influenza-certified deaths (deaths for which influenza was a reported cause of death), and occurrence during the 2009 pandemic period. Of 32 783 paediatric deaths in the death categories examined, 853 (3%) were influenza-certified. The estimated number of influenza-attributable deaths over the study period was 1·8 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1·3-2·8] times higher than the number of influenza-certified deaths. Influenza-attributable deaths were 2·1 (95% CI 1·5-3·4) times higher than influenza-certified deaths during the non-pandemic period and 1·1 (95% CI 1·0-1·8) times higher during the pandemic. Overall, US paediatric deaths attributable to influenza were almost twice the number reported by death certificate codes in the seasons prior to the 2009 pandemic.

Keywords: Influenza; paediatrics; pandemic.

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Conflict of interest statement

None.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Categorization of paediatric deaths. RCNplus deaths are those with respiratory, circulatory, neurological, sepsis, or other/unspecified viral illness as underlying cause of death; influenza-certified deaths are those where influenza is listed as an underlying or contributing cause of death. Deathflu includes those during the pandemic period (DeathfluP) and non-pandemic seasons (DeathfluNP).
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Observed and predicted influenza-attributable, non-influenza certified deaths (DeathRCNplus−flu) and influenza-certified deaths, United States, 2003–2010. DeathRCNplus−flu, Paediatric deaths in RCNplus (respiratory, circulatory, neurological, sepsis, other viral) excluding influenza-certified deaths; pandemic period: week 17 (starting April 26), 2009, to week 39, 2010.
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