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Influenza and pneumonia hospitalizations in Ontario: a time-series analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 November 2004

ERIC J. CRIGHTON ,
RAHIM MOINEDDIN ,
MUHAMMAD MAMDANI  and
ROSS E. G. UPSHUR
ERIC J. CRIGHTON
Affiliation:
Primary Care Research Unit, Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
RAHIM MOINEDDIN
Affiliation:
Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
MUHAMMAD MAMDANI
Affiliation:
Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, ON, Canada Health Policy Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
ROSS E. G. UPSHUR
Affiliation:
Primary Care Research Unit, Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Abstract

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A comprehensive examination of gender and age-specific influenza and pneumonia hospitalization seasonality is currently lacking. Using population-based data for Ontario, Canada between April 1988 and March 2002 (n=339803 hospitalizations), findings from this study revealed clear seasonality [Fisher's Kappa (FK) test=68·64, P<0·001; Bartlett's Kolmogorov–Smirnov (BKS) test=0·68, P<0·001] with consistent summer troughs and winter peaks for both sexes and all ages combined. The very young (both sexes 0–4 years) demonstrated the strongest seasonality (Rautoreg2=0·97) and females aged 10–19 years, the weakest (Rautoreg2=0·59). Gender differences were most pronounced in the oldest age groups (80+ years) where females had an average annualized peak rate of 250/100000 compared to 400/100000 for males. These findings can contribute to more population-specific prevention strategies and effective resource and service allocation based on seasonal and specific population demands.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 132 , Issue 6 , December 2004 , pp. 1167 - 1174
Copyright
© 2004 Cambridge University Press