The population based socioeconomic burden of pediatric influenza-associated hospitalization in Hong Kong.
We described the monetary and non-monetary cost incurred by children hospitalized for virologically confirmed influenza virus infection in a population-based prospective 3-year study. The mean direct and indirect cost of each child hospitalized was $1217.82 (95% CI, 1111.54-1324.23) and $1328.33 (95% CI, $1136.79-1520.00) for influenza A and B, respectively. School age patients took a mean (SD) of 4.70 (3.05) days and 5.31 (3.62) days of sick leave for influenza A and B infection, respectively. Pediatric influenza A and B hospitalization was associated with 662-1046 days of school absenteeism and 214-336 days of parental work loss per 10,000 population <18 years of age per year. We showed that the cost incurred by hospitalization alone, was comparable to the cost of annual universal pediatric influenza vaccination especially in children 6 months to under 6 years of age and vaccination would result in much larger cost-savings when non-monetary costs are included.
Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. ssschiu@hkucc.hku.hk
Susan S
SS
Chiu
Kwok-Hung
KH
Chan
Lok Yee
LY
So
Robin
R
Chen
Eunice L Y
EL
Chan
J S M
JS
Peiris
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000191:economics; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018582:Sick Leave
D007252:Influenza Vaccines