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. 2021 Jun 22;12(2):19-27.
doi: 10.5365/wpsar.2020.11.2.001. eCollection 2021 Apr-Jun.

Estimating the national burden of hospitalizations for influenza-associated severe acute respiratory infection in the Lao People's Democratic Republic, 2016

Bouaphanh Khamphaphongphane  1 , May Chiew  2 , Joshua A Mott  3 , Sombandith Khamphanoulath  1 , Viengphone Khanthamaly  4 , Keooudomphone Vilivong  1   4 , Thongchanh Sisouk  1 , Leila Bell  5 , Erica Dueger  6   7   8 , Sheena Sullivan  9 , Angela Daniella Iuliano  7 , Reiko Tsuyuoka  2 , Onechanh Keosavanh  1
Affiliations

Estimating the national burden of hospitalizations for influenza-associated severe acute respiratory infection in the Lao People's Democratic Republic, 2016

Bouaphanh Khamphaphongphane et al. Western Pac Surveill Response J. .

Abstract

Objective: Estimates of the burden of influenza are needed to inform prevention and control activities for seasonal influenza, including to support the development of appropriate vaccination policies. We used sentinel surveillance data on severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) to estimate the burden of influenza-associated hospitalizations in the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Methods: Using methods developed by the World Health Organization, we combined data from hospital logbook reviews with epidemiological and virological data from influenza surveillance from 1 January to 31 December 2016 in defined catchment areas for two sentinel sites (Champasack and Luang Prabang provincial hospitals) to derive population-based estimates of influenza-associated SARI hospitalization rates. Hospitalization rates by age group were then applied to national age-specific population estimates using 2015 census data.

Results: We estimated the overall influenza-associated SARI hospitalization rate to be 48/100 000 population (95% confidence interval [CI]: 44-51) or 3097 admissions (95% CI: 2881-3313). SARI hospitalization rates were estimated to be as low as 40/100 000 population (95% CI: 37-43) and as high as 92/100 000 population (95% CI: 87-98) after accounting for SARI patient underascertainment in hospital logbooks. Influenza-associated SARI hospitalization rates were highest in children aged < 5 years (219; 95% CI: 198-241) and persons aged 3 65 years (106; 95% CI: 91-121).

Discussion: Our findings have identified age groups at higher risk for influenza-associated SARI hospitalization, which will support policy decisions for influenza prevention and control strategies, including for vaccination. Further work is needed to estimate the burdens of outpatient influenza and influenza in specific high-risk subpopulations.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Map of Lao People’s Democratic Republic and the catchment areas of Champasack Provincial Hospital (blue) and Luang Prabang Provincial Hospital (green), by district
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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