Open AccessEstimates of influenza‐associated hospitalisations in tropical Singapore, 2010‐2017: Higher burden estimated in more recent years
Author(s) -
Ng Yixiang,
Chua Lily Ai Vee,
Ma Stefan,
Jian Ming Lee Ver
Publication year - 2019
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.12676
Subject(s) - medicine , confounding , vaccination , pneumonia , covid-19 , influenza a virus , influenza vaccine , pediatrics , demography , virus , virology , disease , sociology , infectious disease (medical specialty)
Background We previously estimated Singapore's influenza‐associated hospitalisation rate for pneumonia and influenza (P&I) in 2010‐2012 to be 29.6 per 100 000 person‐years, which corresponds to 11.2% of all P&I hospitalisations. Objectives This study aims to update Singapore's estimates of the influenza‐associated pneumonia and influenza (P&I) hospitalisation burden using the latest data from 2010 to 2017. Methods We estimated the number of P&I hospitalisations associated with influenza using generalised additive models. We specified the weekly number of admissions for P&I and the weekly influenza positivity in the models, along with potential confounders such as weekly respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) positivity and meteorological data. Results In 2010‐2017, 16.3% of all P&I hospitalisations in Singapore were estimated to be attributed to influenza, corresponding to an excess influenza‐associated P&I hospitalisation rate of 50.1 per 100 000 person‐years. Higher excess rates were estimated for children aged 0‐4 years (186.8 per 100 000 person‐years) and elderly aged ≥ 65 years (338.0 per 100 000 person‐years). Higher influenza‐associated hospitalisation rates were estimated for 2016 and 2017 (67.9 and 75.1 per 100 000 persons, respectively) years when the influenza A(H3N2) subtype was dominant. Conclusion Influenza burden in Singapore has increased since 2010. Influenza vaccination programmes should continue to be prioritised for the young and the elderly.