Risk factors for influenza-associated severe acute respiratory illness hospitalization in South Africa, 2012–2015
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Date
Authors
Tempia, Stefano
Walaza, Sibongile
Moyes, Jocelyn
Cohen, Adam L.
Von Mollendorf, Claire
Treurnicht, Florette K.
Venter, Marietjie
Pretorius, Marthi Andréa
Hellferscee, Orienka
Mtshali, Senzo
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Abstract
BACKGROUND : Data on risk factors for influenza-associated hospitalizations in low- and middle-income countries are limited.
METHODS : We conducted active syndromic surveillance for hospitalized severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) and outpatient
influenza-like illness (ILI) in 2 provinces of South Africa during 2012–2015. We compared the characteristics of influenza-positive
patients with SARI to those with ILI to identify factors associated with severe disease requiring hospitalization, using unconditional
logistic regression.
RESULTS : During the study period, influenza virus was detected in 5.9% (110 of 1861) and 15.8% (577 of 3652) of SARI and ILI
cases, respectively. On multivariable analysis factors significantly associated with increased risk of influenza-associated SARI hospitalization
were as follows: younger and older age (<6 months [adjusted odds ratio {aOR}, 37.6], 6–11 months [aOR, 31.9], 12–23
months [aOR, 22.1], 24–59 months [aOR, 7.1], and ≥65 years [aOR, 40.7] compared with 5–24 years of age), underlying medical
conditions (aOR, 4.5), human immunodeficiency virus infection (aOR, 4.3), and Streptococcus pneumoniae colonization density
≥1000 deoxyribonucleic acid copies/mL (aOR, 4.8). Underlying medical conditions in children aged <5 years included asthma (aOR,
22.7), malnutrition (aOR, 2.4), and prematurity (aOR, 4.8); in persons aged ≥5 years, conditions included asthma (aOR, 3.6), diabetes
(aOR, 7.1), chronic lung diseases (aOR, 10.7), chronic heart diseases (aOR, 9.6), and obesity (aOR, 21.3). Mine workers (aOR,
13.8) and pregnant women (aOR, 12.5) were also at increased risk for influenza-associated hospitalization.
CONCLUSIONS : The risk groups identified in this study may benefit most from annual influenza immunization, and children
<6 months of age may be protected through vaccination of their mothers during pregnancy
Description
Keywords
Hospitalization, Risk factors, Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), South Africa (SA), Influenza-associated hospitalization, Severe acute respiratory illness (SARI), Influenza-like illness (ILI)
Sustainable Development Goals
Citation
Tempia et al 2017, 'Risk factors for influenza-associated severe acute respiratory illness hospitalization in South Africa, 2012–2015', Open Forum Infectious Diseases, vol. 10, no. 4, pp. 1-10.