Monitoring the impact of influenza by age: emergency department fever and respiratory complaint surveillance in New York City.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The importance of understanding age when estimating the impact of influenza on hospitalizations and deaths has been well described, yet existing surveillance systems have not made adequate use of age-specific data. Monitoring influenza-related morbidity using electronic health data may provide timely and detailed insight into the age-specific course, impact and epidemiology of seasonal drift and reassortment epidemic viruses. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of emergency department (ED) chief complaint data for measuring influenza-attributable morbidity by age and by predominant circulating virus.

Methods and findings

We analyzed electronically reported ED fever and respiratory chief complaint and viral surveillance data in New York City (NYC) dur

SUBMITTER: Olson DR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1939858 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature