Incidence of influenza-like illness, measured by a general practitioner sentinel system, is associated with day-to-day variations in respiratory health in panel studies.
During three consecutive winters beginning in 1992-1993, the association between the incidence of influenza and influenza-like illness (ILI), measured by a general practitioner sentinel system, and respiratory health was investigated in an air pollution panel study. Data from 22 panels of children (7-11 years old) and adults (50-70 years old) in the Netherlands were used. ILI incidence was associated with peak expiratory flow, respiratory symptoms, and bronchodilator use. Peak ILI incidence of 122 cases/10,000 subjects was associated with a decrement in peak expiratory flow of 6% and a 3- to 4.5-fold increase in symptom reporting and bronchodilator use. In panel studies, ILI incidence might be used to adjust for confounding by acute respiratory infections.
van der Zee
S C
SC
Environmental and Occupational Health Group, University of Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Hoek
G
G
Brunekreef
B
B
D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010821:Physicians, Family; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*