Estimating the burden of influenza‐associated hospitalizations and deaths in Central America

Objectives Our objective was to estimate the incidence of influenza‐associated hospitalizations and in‐hospital deaths in Central American Region. Design and setting We used hospital discharge records, influenza surveillance virology data, and population projections collected from Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua to estimate influenza‐associated hospitalizations and in‐hospital deaths. We performed a meta‐analysis of influenza‐associated hospitalizations and in‐hospital deaths. Main outcome measures The highest annual incidence was observed among children aged <5 years (136 influenza‐associated hospitalizations per 100 000 persons). Results Annually, 7 625–11 289 influenza‐associated hospitalizations and 352–594 deaths occurred in the subregion. Conclusions Our results suggest that a substantive number of persons are annually hospitalized because of influenza. Health officials should estimate how many illnesses could be averted through increased influenza vaccination.