Search

BACKGROUND. Influenza causes significant morbidity among children. Previous studies used indirect case ascertainment methods with little cost data. We sought to measure the burden of laboratory-confirmed influenza from hospitalized children. METHODS. We conducted a retrospective cohort study during 3 viral seasons at Primary Children's Medical Center (Salt Lake City, UT). Children [less than or equal to] 18 years of age who were hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza infection were included. Outcomes included hospitalization rates, complications including intensive care unit stays, mechanical ventilation, length of stay, and total hospital costs. RESULTS. A total of 325 children had hospitalizations attributable to influenza over 3 viral seasons: 28% 2 years of age; 37% had high-risk medical conditions. Population-based rates of hospitalization for Salt Lake County residents ranged from 6.3 to 252.7 per 100 000 children. The highest rates were in children younger than 6 months, and rates decreased with increasing age. Forty-nine (15%) children had an ICU stay; 27 required mechanical ventilation, and half of these patients were >2 years of age. Total hospital cost for the cohort was $2 million; 55% was accounted for by children >2 years of age. Length of stay and total hospital costs were significantly higher in all children >2 years of age compared with children CONCLUSIONS. Proven influenza infection in children results in substantial hospital resource utilization and morbidity. Nationwide, the median hospital costs may total $55 million. Our data support the Advisory Committee on Immunization's recommendations to expand the use of influenza vaccine to children >2 years of age. Key Words influenza, children, resource utilization, complications, hospitalization, INFLUENZA IS RESPONSIBLE for seasonal epidemics of pediatric respiratory illness each year, resulting in substantial morbidity, mortality, and increased health care utilization and costs. Population-based studies in the United States [...]

HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (HIT) promises to facilitate improvements in medical care. However, implementation methods are equally important, because both technology and its implementation change the culture and workflow in health [...]