Background: In Europe, influenza vaccination coverage in the pediatric population is low. This study describes the influenza incidence and associated healthcare utilization in the pediatric population in Italy. Methods: Deidentified data from electronic medical records for children 0-14 years old seen by >150 family pediatricians in the Pedianet network in Italy were evaluated for 10 influenza seasons spanning 2010-2020. Incidence of influenza (cases per 1000 person-months), related sequelae and associated healthcare resource use were determined using diagnostic, prescription and medical examination data. Results: Over 10 seasons, an average of 8892 influenza cases (range, 4700-12,419; total 88,921) were diagnosed in a cohort of 1,432,384 children 0-14 years of age. Influenza vaccination coverage was 3.6% among children with an influenza diagnosis and 6.8% among children without. Influenza-related healthcare resource utilization included 1.58 family pediatrician visits per influenza episode and 220 ED and 111 hospital admissions, with the highest resource usage among children 1-4 years and lowest among children <6 months old. The most common influenza complications were acute otitis media (2.9% of influenza cases) and pneumonia (0.5%). Antibiotics were prescribed in 38.7% of influenza cases; no antiviral agents were prescribed. One intensive care unit admission and 2 cases requiring ventilatory support were documented. No influenza-related deaths were reported. Conclusion: Pediatric influenza vaccination was low despite the burden and healthcare use related to seasonal influenza in the pediatric population during a 10-year period in Italy.
Barbieri, E., Porcu, G., Dona, D., Cavagnis, S., Cantarutti, L., Scamarcia, A., et al. (2023). Epidemiology and Burden of Influenza in Children 0-14 Years over Ten Consecutive Seasons in Italy. THE PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE JOURNAL, 42(12), 440-446 [10.1097/INF.0000000000004090].
Epidemiology and Burden of Influenza in Children 0-14 Years over Ten Consecutive Seasons in Italy
Porcu G.
;Cantarutti A.
2023
Abstract
Background: In Europe, influenza vaccination coverage in the pediatric population is low. This study describes the influenza incidence and associated healthcare utilization in the pediatric population in Italy. Methods: Deidentified data from electronic medical records for children 0-14 years old seen by >150 family pediatricians in the Pedianet network in Italy were evaluated for 10 influenza seasons spanning 2010-2020. Incidence of influenza (cases per 1000 person-months), related sequelae and associated healthcare resource use were determined using diagnostic, prescription and medical examination data. Results: Over 10 seasons, an average of 8892 influenza cases (range, 4700-12,419; total 88,921) were diagnosed in a cohort of 1,432,384 children 0-14 years of age. Influenza vaccination coverage was 3.6% among children with an influenza diagnosis and 6.8% among children without. Influenza-related healthcare resource utilization included 1.58 family pediatrician visits per influenza episode and 220 ED and 111 hospital admissions, with the highest resource usage among children 1-4 years and lowest among children <6 months old. The most common influenza complications were acute otitis media (2.9% of influenza cases) and pneumonia (0.5%). Antibiotics were prescribed in 38.7% of influenza cases; no antiviral agents were prescribed. One intensive care unit admission and 2 cases requiring ventilatory support were documented. No influenza-related deaths were reported. Conclusion: Pediatric influenza vaccination was low despite the burden and healthcare use related to seasonal influenza in the pediatric population during a 10-year period in Italy.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.