Spatial-temporal excess mortality patterns of the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic in Spain.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The impact of socio-demographic factors and baseline health on the mortality burden of seasonal and pandemic influenza remains debated. Here we analyzed the spatial-temporal mortality patterns of the 1918 influenza pandemic in Spain, one of the countries of Europe that experienced the highest mortality burden.

Methods

We analyzed monthly death rates from respiratory diseases and all-causes across 49 provinces of Spain, including the Canary and Balearic Islands, during the period January-1915 to June-1919. We estimated the influenza-related excess death rates and risk of death relative to baseline mortality by pandemic wave and province. We then explored the association between pandemic excess mortality rates and health and socio-demographic factors, which included

SUBMITTER: Chowell G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4094406 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature