Influenza epidemiology in patients admitted to sentinel Australian hospitals in 2016: the Influenza Complications Alert Network (FluCAN)

Authors

  • Allen C Cheng Alfred Health; Monash University
  • Mark Holmes University of Adelaide, Royal Adelaide Hospital
  • Dominic E Dwyer University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital
  • Louis B Irving Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne
  • Tony Korman Monash Medical Centre; Monash University
  • Sanjaya Senanayake Australian National University, The Canberra Hospital
  • Kristine Macartney Children’s Hospital at Westmead
  • Christopher C Blyth Princess Margaret Hospital, University of Western Australia; Telethon Kids Institute
  • Simon Brown University of Western Australia, Royal Perth Hospital
  • Grant W Waterer University of Western Australia, Royal Perth Hospital
  • Louise Cooley Royal Hobart Hospital
  • N Deborah Friedman University Hospital Geelong
  • Peter Wark University of Newcastle, John Hunter Hospital
  • Graham Simpson Cairns Base Hospital
  • John Upham Princess Alexandra Hospital, University of Queensland
  • Simon Bowler Mater Hospitals
  • Stephen Brady Alice Springs Hospital
  • Tom Kotsimbos Alfred Health; Monash University
  • Paul M Kelly ACT Government Health Directorate; Australian National University Medical School

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33321/cdi.2017.41.44

Keywords:

influenza, public health surveillance, influenza vaccines, vaccination coverage, vaccine effectiveness

Abstract

The Influenza Complications Alert Network (FluCAN) is a sentinel hospital-based surveillance program that operates at sites in all states and territories in Australia. This report summarises the epidemiology of hospitalisations with laboratory-confirmed influenza during the 2016 influenza season.
In this observational study, cases were defined as patients admitted to one of the sentinel hospitals with an acute respiratory illness with influenza confirmed by nucleic acid detection. Data are also collected on a frequency matched sample of influenza negative patients admitted with acute respiratory infection as a control group.
During the period 1 April to 30 October 2016 (the 2016 influenza season), there were 1,952 patients admitted with confirmed influenza to one of 17 FluCAN sentinel hospitals. Of these, 46% were elderly (≥65 years), 18% were children (<16 years), 5% were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, 3% were pregnant and 76% had chronic co-morbidities. A small proportion were due to influenza B (7%). Estimated vaccine coverage was 73% in the elderly (≥65 years), 51% in non-elderly adults with medical comorbidities and 15% in children (<16 years) with medical comorbidities. The estimated vaccine effectiveness in the target population was 13% (95% confidence interval (CI): -5% to 27%).
There were a large number of hospital admissions detected with confirmed influenza in this national observational surveillance system in 2016 with case numbers similar to that reported in 2014 and 2015.

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References

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Published

01/12/17

How to Cite

Cheng, Allen C, Mark Holmes, Dominic E Dwyer, Louis B Irving, Tony Korman, Sanjaya Senanayake, Kristine Macartney, et al. 2017. “Influenza Epidemiology in Patients Admitted to Sentinel Australian Hospitals in 2016: The Influenza Complications Alert Network (FluCAN)”. Communicable Diseases Intelligence 41 (December):337-47. https://doi.org/10.33321/cdi.2017.41.44.

Issue

Vol. 41 (2017)

Section

Annual report

Categories

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