Open AccessInfluenza‐associated mortality in T hailand, 2 006–2011
Author(s) -
Aungkula Suchunya,
Cheng PoYung,
Kusreesakul Khanitta,
Bundhamcharoen Kanitta,
Chittaganpitch Malinee,
Margaret McCarron,
Olsen Sonja
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
influenza and other respiratory viruses
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.743
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1750-2659
pISSN - 1750-2640
DOI - 10.1111/irv.12344
Subject(s) - medicine , demography , mortality rate , pandemic , vaccination , pneumonia , population , human mortality from h5n1 , seasonal influenza , excess mortality , environmental health , immunology , covid-19 , infectious disease (medical specialty) , disease , sociology
Background Influenza‐associated mortality in subtropical or tropical regions, particularly in developing countries, remains poorly quantified and often underestimated. We analyzed data in T hailand, a middle‐income tropical country with good vital statistics and influenza surveillance data. Methods We obtained weekly mortality data for all‐cause and three underlying causes of death (circulatory and respiratory diseases, and pneumonia and influenza), and weekly influenza virus data, from 2006 to 2011. A negative binomial regression model was used to estimate deaths attributable to influenza in two age groups (<65 and ≥65 years) by incorporating influenza viral data as covariates in the model. Results From 2006 to 2011, the average annual influenza‐associated mortality per 100 000 persons was 4·0 (95% CI : −18 to 26). Eighty‐three percent of influenza‐associated deaths occurred among persons aged > 65 years. The average annual rate of influenza‐associated deaths was 0·7 (95% CI : −8·2 to 10) per 100 000 population for person aged <65 years and 42 (95% CI : −137 to 216) for person aged ≥ 65 years. Discussion In T hailand, estimated excess mortality associated with influenza was considerable even during non‐pandemic years. These data provide support for T hailand's seasonal influenza vaccination campaign. Continued monitoring of mortality data is important to assess impact.