Impact of the fall 2009 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 pandemic on US hospitals.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Understanding how hospitals functioned during the 2009 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 pandemic may improve future public health emergency response, but information about its impact on US hospitals remains largely unknown.

Research design

We matched hospital and emergency department (ED) discharge data from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project with community-level influenza-like illness activity during each hospital's pandemic period in fall 2009 compared with a corresponding calendar baseline period. We compared inpatient mortality for sentinel conditions at high-surge versus nonsurge hospitals.

Results

US hospitals experienced a doubling of pneumonia and influenza ED visits during fall 2009 compared with pri

SUBMITTER: Rubinson L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6669026 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature