[Impact on the direct medical cost related to the influenza virus during 2009 in children under 5 years compared to the period 2006-2008 in a pediatric hospital].
BACKGROUND
Epidemic outbreaks of influenza occur every year and healthcare systems must amplify their response in accordance with available medical resources. This situation generates cost increases. During the recent influenza A pandemic, costs were likely to have been greater than in previous years.


OBJECTIVE
To estimate direct health costs of influenza-related illness during 2009 compared to costs expended in the previous 3-year period at Ricardo Gutiérrez Children's Hospital, City of Buenos Aires, Argentina.


METHODS
We conducted a cross-sectional epidemiological study with retrospective control group to estimate influenza-related costs for the years 2006 to 2009 using data from outpatient consultations and hospital admissions for Acute Respiratory Infections attributable to Influenza virus in children under 5 years old. Incremental costs were estimated for the year 2009 compared to average costs for the period 2006-2008.


RESULTS
Total incremental cost of hospital admissions and outpatient consultations for influenza was US$ 91512 for the year 2009 compared to average cost for 2006-2008 period (incremental cost of US$ 147560 for hospital admissions and US$ -56048 for outpatient consultations).


CONCLUSIONS
Influenza-related costs were greater in 2009 than in previous years due to higher number of hospital admissions attributable to influenza A H1N1.
Servicio de Promoción y Protección de la Salud, Área Epidemiología, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina. norbergiglio@gmail.com
Norberto D
ND
Giglio
Vanesa E
VE
Castellano
Ricardo W
RW
Rüttimann
Gabriela I
GI
Vidal
Angela
A
Gentile
D001118:Argentina; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004180:Direct Service Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors