Estimated hospitalizations attributed to norovirus and rotavirus infection in Canada, 2006–2010

Abstract

SUMMARYEnteric viruses including norovirus and rotavirus are leading causes of gastroenteritis in Canada. However, only a small number of clinical cases are actually tested for these pathogens leading to systematic underestimation of attributed hospitalizations in administrative databases. The objective of this analysis was to estimate the number of hospitalizations due to norovirus and rotavirus in Canada. Hospitalization records for acute gastroenteritis-associated discharges at all acute-care hospitals in Canada between 2006 and 2011 were analysed. Cause-unspecified gastroenteritis hospitalizations were modelled using age-specific negative binomial models with cause-specified gastroenteritis admissions as predictors. The coefficients from the models were used to estimate the number of norovirus and rotavirus admissions. The total annual hospitalizations for rotavirus were estimated to be between 4500 and 10 000. Total annual hospitalizations for norovirus were estimated to be between 4000 and 11 000. The mean total annual cost associated with these hospitalizations was estimated to be at least $16 million for rotavirus and $21 million for norovirus (all figures in Canadian dollars). This study is the first comprehensive analysis of norovirus and rotavirus hospitalizations in Canada. These estimates provide a more complete assessment of the burden and economic costs of these pathogens to the Canadian healthcare system.

Estimated Annual Numbers of Foodborne Pathogen–Associated Illnesses, Hospitalizations, and Deaths, France, 2008–2013

“…Estimating the number of hospitalizations for these pathogens is challenging, and these different methodologic approaches have a major effect on the final estimate. For norovirus, despite differences in methodology and healthcare systems, our estimate (all modes of transmission) of the number of hospitalizations was in the same range as those estimated in North America ( 24 , 25 ) and in the Netherlands ( 26 ).…”

“…and Salmonella spp. Data sources described in the literature to estimate the number of hospitalizations for norovirus, B. cereus , C. perfringens , and S. aureus infections include hospital discharge data and data from foodborne disease outbreaks ( 15 , 18 , 19 , 24 , 25 ). Estimating the number of hospitalizations for these pathogens is challenging, and these different methodologic approaches have a major effect on the final estimate.…”

Effectiveness of rotavirus vaccine in preventing severe gastroenteritis in young children according to socioeconomic status

“…In developed countries, severe rotavirus infections are usually not fatal but may result in hospitalizations, generating important costs for society 2 . Before the arrival of rotavirus vaccines in Canada, there were on average 7,500 to 10,500 estimated hospitalizations for rotavirus gastroenteritis (RVGE) annually 3,4 . Rotavirus infections were responsible for up to 72% of AGE hospitalizations during winter months 5 …”

The etiology of viral gastroenteritis in patients requiring hospitalization: Differences between rotavirus and norovirus infections - practical or only academic significance?

“…Rotavirus is considered the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis and accounts for the highest percentage of patients presenting with a more severe clinical picture. This conclusion was reached by analyzing outpatients and hospitalized patients, and it has been found that the most common cause of hospitalization is rotavirus [3,[6][7][8][9][10][11]. However, studies that included only hospitalized patients have provided contradictory data about the severity of clinical picture of rotavirus and norovirus infections.…”