Age- and sex-specific mortality associated with the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic in Kentucky.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The reasons for the unusual age-specific mortality patterns of the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic remain unknown. Here we characterize pandemic-related mortality by single year of age in a unique statewide Kentucky data set and explore breakpoints in the age curves.

Methods

Individual death certificates from Kentucky during 1911-1919 were abstracted by medically trained personnel. Pandemic-associated excess mortality rates were calculated by subtracting observed rates during pandemic months from rates in previous years, separately for each single year of age and by sex.

Results

The age profile of excess mortality risk in fall 1918 was characterized by a maximum among infants, a minimum at ages 9-10 years, a maximum at ages 24-26 years, and a second minimum at

SUBMITTER: Viboud C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3563305 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature