A population‐based estimate of the economic burden of influenza in Peru, 2009–2010

Abstract

IntroductionInfluenza disease burden and economic impact data are needed to assess the potential value of interventions. Such information is limited from resource‐limited settings. We therefore studied the cost of influenza in Peru.MethodsWe used data collected during June 2009–December 2010 from laboratory‐confirmed influenza cases identified through a household cohort in Peru. We determined the self‐reported direct and indirect costs of self‐treatment, outpatient care, emergency ward care, and hospitalizations through standardized questionnaires. We recorded costs accrued 15‐day from illness onset. Direct costs represented medication, consultation, diagnostic fees, and health‐related expenses such as transportation and phone calls. Indirect costs represented lost productivity during days of illness by both cases and caregivers. We estimated the annual economic cost and the impact of a case of influenza on a household.ResultsThere were 1321 confirmed influenza cases, of which 47% sought health care. Participants with confirmed influenza illness paid a median of $13 [interquartile range (IQR) 5–26] for self‐treatment, $19 (IQR 9–34) for ambulatory non‐medical attended illness, $29 (IQR 14–51) for ambulatory medical attended illness, and $171 (IQR 113–258) for hospitalizations. Overall, the projected national cost of an influenza illness was $83–$85 millions. Costs per influenza illness represented 14% of the monthly household income of the lowest income quartile (compared to 3% of the highest quartile).ConclusionInfluenza virus infection causes an important economic burden, particularly among the poorest families and those hospitalized. Prevention strategies such as annual influenza vaccination program targeting SAGE population at risk could reduce the overall economic impact of seasonal influenza.

Estimation of influenza and severe acute respiratory illness incidence (burden) in three provinces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 2012 and 2013

“…The overall incidence of SARI and F-SARI in our study was estimated at 187.6 and 29.0 per 100 000 population, respectively. In a Peruvian study by Tinocco et al (19) the annual incidence of influenza per 100 000 population in different age groups was calculated as: < 5 years, 277; 5-17 years, 225; 18-49 years, 74; 50-64 years, 65; and > 65 years, 46. We estimated the annual incidences for different age groups as: < 5 years, 492; 5-14 years, 1; 15-49 years, 23; 50-64 years, 86; and > 65 years, 47.…”

Evaluating Google Flu Trends in Latin America: Important Lessons for the Next Phase of Digital Disease Detection

“…Validation Against an Alternative Measurement of Influenza Activity on a Fine Spatial Scale Given the possible limitations of FluNet data (including those inherent to sentinel surveillance and marked differences in sampling density by country [ Supplementary Figure S2]) and because FluNet does not report subnational data, we tested the correlation between subnational weekly GFT trends in Cusco and Lima, Peru (https://www.google.org/flutrends/ about/) and prospectively collected weekly adjusted influenza incidence data from 2 community-based cohorts in Lima and Cusco, Peru, available from 1 January 2011 to 26 July 2014. The details of these community-based surveillance studies are described elsewhere [23,24].…”

Interim influenza vaccine effectiveness estimates during the 2023 Southern Hemisphere season

“…During the 2023 SH season, a substantial number of people sought care for influenza, but incidence was lower than reported among persons seeking care for influenza-like illness from before COVID-19. 5 2023 SH VE against influenza was similar to that of the 2022 SH season 1,2 and the 2022-2023 U.S. season 6 even though A(H1N1)pdm09 clade 6B.1A.5a.2a viruses predominated in 2023 whereas influenza A(H3N2) clade 2.a3 viruses predominated in 2022. 7 The A/Victoria/2570/2019 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus in the SH vaccine conferred a 65% risk reduction in medically attended influenza, yet fewer than one in five persons in this evaluation reported receiving an influenza vaccine during 2023.…”