Influenza-associated mortality in South Africa, 2009-2013: The importance of choices related to influenza infection proxies.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Regression modeling methods are commonly used to estimate influenza-associated mortality using covariates such as laboratory-confirmed influenza activity in the population as a proxy of influenza incidence.

Objective

We examined the choices of influenza proxies that can be used from influenza laboratory surveillance data and their impact on influenza-associated mortality estimates.

Method

Semiparametric generalized additive models with a smoothing spline were applied on national mortality data from South Africa and influenza surveillance data as covariates to obtain influenza-associated mortality estimates from respiratory causes from 2009 to 2013. Proxies examined included alternative ways of expressing influenza laboratory surveillance data such as weekly

SUBMITTER: Gul D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5818357 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature