Disparities in influenza mortality and transmission related to sociodemographic factors within Chicago in the pandemic of 1918.

ABSTRACT: Social factors have been shown to create differential burden of influenza across different geographic areas. We explored the relationship between potential aggregate-level social determinants and mortality during the 1918 influenza pandemic in Chicago using a historical dataset of 7,971 influenza and pneumonia deaths. Census tract-level social factors, including rates of illiteracy, homeownership, population, and unemployment, were assessed as predictors of pandemic mortality in Chicago. Poisson models fit with generalized estimating equations (GEEs) were used to estimate the association between social factors and the risk of influenza and pneumonia mortality. The Poisson model showed that influenza and pneumonia mortality increased, on average, by 32.2% for every 10% increase in illiterac

SUBMITTER: Grantz KH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5137773 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature