School sessions are correlated with seasonal outbreaks of medically attended respiratory infections: electronic health record time series analysis, Wisconsin 2004–2011

Temte, Jonathan L.; Meiman, Jonathan; Gangnon, Ronald E.

doi:10.1017/s0950268818003424

Cited by 13 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 31 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Studies have demonstrated an increased frequency of illness in association with school attendance. [12][13][14] Any going out at night, gathering and socialising was prevented during lockdown. Additionally, increased hygiene practices such as handwashing could be expected to reduce the frequency of community-acquired illnesses.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in demand for emergency ambulances during a nationwide lockdown that resulted in elimination of COVID-19: an observational study from New Zealand

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

ObjectiveTo examine the impact of a 5-week national lockdown on ambulance service demand during the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand.DesignA descriptive cross-sectional, observational study.SettingHigh-quality data from ambulance electronic clinical records, New Zealand.ParticipantsAmbulance records were obtained from 588 690 attendances during pre-lockdown (prior to 17 February 2020) and from 36 238 records during the lockdown period (23 March to 26 April 2020).Main outcome measuresAmbulance service utilisation during lockdown was compared with pre-lockdown: (a) descriptive analyses of ambulance events and proportions of event types for each period, (b) absolute rates of ambulance attendance (event types/week) for each period.ResultsDuring lockdown, ambulance patients were more likely to be attended at home and less likely to be aged between 16 and 25 years. There was a significant increase in the proportion of lower acuity patients (Status 3 and Status 4) attended (p<0.001) and a corresponding increase in patients not transported from scene (p<0.001). Road traffic crashes (p<0.001) and alcohol-related incidents (p<0.001) significantly decreased. There was a decrease in the absolute number of weekly ambulance attendances (ratio (95% CI), 0.89 (0.87 to 0.91), p<0.001), attendances to respiratory conditions (0.74 (0.61 to 0.86), p=0.01), and trauma (0.81 (0.77 to 0.85), p<0.001). However, there was a significant increase in ambulance attendances for mental health conditions (1.37 (1.22 to 1.51), p=0.005).ConclusionsDespite the relative absence of COVID-19 in the community during the 5-week nationwide lockdown, there were significant differences in ambulance utilisation during this period. The lockdown was associated with an increase in ambulance attendances for mental health conditions and is of concern. In considering future lockdowns, the potential implications on a population’s mental well-being will need to be seriously considered against the benefits of elimination of virus transmission.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in demand for emergency ambulances during a nationwide lockdown that resulted in elimination of COVID-19: an observational study from New Zealand

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…7 , 8 Even though influenza transmission among school‐aged children frequently precedes subsequent community transmission, 9 , 10 there have been no systematical evaluations of school‐based monitoring of influenza activity for complementing routine surveillance or serving as an early‐warning system for increased influenza activity in the wider community. Monitoring school absenteeism is feasible, as seasonal outbreaks occur between late fall and mid‐spring while schools are in session, 11 , 12 and most of the 13,588 school districts 13 across the United States collect daily absenteeism data using electronic school information systems. 14…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Oregon Child Absenteeism Due to Respiratory Disease Study (ORCHARDS): Rationale, objectives, and design

Temte¹,

Barlow²,

Goss³

et al. 2021

Influenza Resp Viruses

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Influenza viruses pose significant disease burdens through seasonal outbreaks and unpredictable pandemics. Existing surveillance programs rely heavily on reporting of medically attended influenza (MAI). Continuously monitoring cause‐specific school absenteeism may identify local acceleration of seasonal influenza activity. The Oregon Child Absenteeism Due to Respiratory Disease Study (ORCHARDS; Oregon, WI) implements daily school‐based monitoring of influenza‐like illness‐specific student absenteeism (a‐ILI) in kindergarten through Grade 12 schools and assesses this approach for early detection of accelerated influenza and other respiratory pathogen transmission in schools and surrounding communities. Methods Starting in September 2014, ORCHARDS combines automated reporting of daily absenteeism within six schools and home visits to school children with acute respiratory infection (ARI). Demographic, epidemiological, and symptom data are collected along with respiratory specimens. Specimens are tested for influenza and other respiratory viruses. Household members can opt into a supplementary household transmission study. Community comparisons are possible using a pre‐existing and highly effective influenza surveillance program, based on MAI at five family medicine clinics in the same geographical area. Results Over the first 5 years, a‐ILI occurred on 6634 (0.20%) of 3,260,461 student school days. Viral pathogens were detected in 64.5% of 1728 children with ARI who received a home visit. Influenza was the most commonly detected virus, noted in 23.3% of ill students. Conclusion ORCHARDS uses a community‐based design to detect influenza trends over multiple seasons and to evaluate the utility of absenteeism for early detection of accelerated influenza and other respiratory pathogen transmission in schools and surrounding communities.

show abstract

“…We accounted for this through examinations of seasonal signatures for Winter and Spring Break holiday effects though not elsewhere within our analyses. A simple approach of comparing risks of respiratory infections within communities while schools were in session and out-of-session is a viable approach to start [40], yet the complexity of accounting for overlapping events and delayed effects is daunting.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Incorporating calendar effects to predict influenza seasonality in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Social outings can trigger influenza transmission, especially in children and elderly. In contrast, school closures are associated with reduced influenza incidence in school-aged children. While influenza surveillance modelling studies typically account for holidays and mass gatherings, age-specific effects of school breaks, sporting events and commonly celebrated observances are not fully explored. We examined the impact of school holidays, social events and religious observances for six age groups (all ages, ⩽4, 5–24, 25–44, 45–64, ⩾65 years) on four influenza outcomes (tests, positives, influenza A and influenza B) as reported by the City of Milwaukee Health Department Laboratory, Milwaukee, Wisconsin from 2004 to 2009. We characterised holiday effects by analysing average weekly counts in negative binomial regression models controlling for weather and seasonal incidence fluctuations. We estimated age-specific annual peak timing and compared influenza outcomes before, during and after school breaks. During the 118 university holiday weeks, average weekly tests were lower than in 140 school term weeks (5.93 vs. 11.99 cases/week, P < 0.005). The dampening of tests during Winter Break was evident in all ages and in those 5–24 years (RR = 0.31; 95% CI 0.22–0.41 vs. RR = 0.14; 95% CI 0.09–0.22, respectively). A significant increase in tests was observed during Spring Break in 45–64 years old adults (RR = 2.12; 95% CI 1.14–3.96). Milwaukee Public Schools holiday breaks showed similar amplification and dampening effects. Overall, calendar effects depend on the proximity and alignment of an individual holiday to age-specific and influenza outcome-specific peak timing. Better quantification of individual holiday effects, tailored to specific age groups, should improve influenza prevention measures.

show abstract

School sessions are correlated with seasonal outbreaks of medically attended respiratory infections: electronic health record time series analysis, Wisconsin 2004–2011

Cited by 13 publications

References 31 publications

Changes in demand for emergency ambulances during a nationwide lockdown that resulted in elimination of COVID-19: an observational study from New Zealand

Changes in demand for emergency ambulances during a nationwide lockdown that resulted in elimination of COVID-19: an observational study from New Zealand

The Oregon Child Absenteeism Due to Respiratory Disease Study (ORCHARDS): Rationale, objectives, and design

Incorporating calendar effects to predict influenza seasonality in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About