title: Hospitalization Incidence, Mortality, and Seasonality of Common Respiratory Viruses Over a Period of 15 Years in a Developed Subtropical City.
abstract: Information on respiratory viruses in subtropical region is limited.Incidence, mortality, and seasonality of influenza (Flu) A/B, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), adenovirus (ADV), and parainfluenza viruses (PIV) 1/2/3 in hospitalized patients were assessed over a 15-year period (1998-2012) in Hong Kong.Male predominance and laterally transversed J-shaped distribution in age-specific incidence was observed. Incidence of Flu A, RSV, and PIV decreased sharply from infants to toddlers; whereas Flu B and ADV increased slowly. RSV conferred higher fatality than Flu, and was the second killer among hospitalized elderly. ADV and PIV were uncommon, but had the highest fatality. RSV, PIV 2/3 admissions increased over the 15 years, whereas ADV had decreased significantly. A "high season," mainly contributed by Flu, was observed in late-winter/early-spring (February-March). The "medium season" in spring/summer (April-August) was due to Flu and RSV. The "low season" in late autumn/winter (October-December) was due to PIV and ADV. Seasonality varied between viruses, but predictable distinctive pattern for each virus existed, and temperature was the most important associating meteorological variable.Respiratory viruses exhibit strong sex- and age-predilection, and with predictable seasonality allowing strategic preparedness planning. Hospital-based surveillance is crucial for real-time assessment on severity of new variants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology (PKSC, MCWC, RWML, ACMY, WCSH), Stanley Ho Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases (PKSC, NL, DSCH), Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong; Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore (WWST); Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care (WWST, MCSW), Department of Pediatrics (KLH, TFL, EASN) and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics (NL, DSCH), Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong; Hong Kong Observatory, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China (TCL, HYM).
authors.forename: Paul K S
authors.initials: PKS
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Wilson W S
authors.initials: WWS
authors.lastname: Tam
authors.forename: Tsz Cheung
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kam Lun
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Hon
authors.forename: Nelson
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Martin C W
authors.initials: MCW
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Hing Yim
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Mok
authors.forename: Martin C S
authors.initials: MCS
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Ting Fan
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: Raymond W M
authors.initials: RWM
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Apple C M
authors.initials: ACM
authors.lastname: Yeung
authors.forename: Wendy C S
authors.initials: WCS
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: E Anthony S
authors.initials: EAS
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: David S C
authors.initials: DSC
authors.lastname: Hui
mesh_terms: D000258:Adenovirus Infections, Human / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018184:Paramyxoviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult