Age-related differences in the accuracy of web query-based predictions of influenza-like illness.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Web queries are now widely used for modeling, nowcasting and forecasting influenza-like illness (ILI). However, given that ILI attack rates vary significantly across ages, in terms of both magnitude and timing, little is known about whether the association between ILI morbidity and ILI-related queries is comparable across different age-groups. The present study aimed to investigate features of the association between ILI morbidity and ILI-related query volume from the perspective of age.

Methods

Since Google Flu Trends is unavailable in Italy, Google Trends was used to identify entry terms that correlated highly with official ILI surveillance data. All-age and age-class-specific modeling was performed by means of linear models with generalized least-square estimat

SUBMITTER: Domnich A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4444192 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature