[Influenza associated excess mortality in Argentina: 1992-2002].
OBJECTIVE
To describe the effect of influenza on mortality in Argentina, from 1992 to 2002.


METHODS
In order to fulfill this objective, influenza associated excess mortality was determined by the application of ARIMA method to mortality data for pneumonia and influenza and for all causes.


RESULTS
Excess mortality was only detected during subtype A/H3N2 seasons. The model yielded about 31,240 excess mortality for all causes. Pneumonia deaths contributed in about 15%. Approximately 80-95% of pneumonia and influenza excess mortality was restricted to persons > 64 years old.


CONCLUSIONS
These estimations show that the virus circulation has had an important influence on mortality, increasing the number of deaths, especially in elderly population. The aging of the population reinforces the need of preventing strategies, including vaccination programs with high coverage in elderly population.
Imaz
M Susana
MS
Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Emilio Coni, Santa Fe, Argentina. rfernand@fcjs.uni.edu.tr
Eimann
Mirta
M
Poyard
Eleonora
E
Savy
Vilma
V
D000368:Aged; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D002423:Cause of Death; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006801:Humans; D053122:Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000401:mortality* / Q000821:virology; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000401:mortality*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons