title: Analysis of measles-related hospitalizations in Tuscany from 2000 to 2014.
abstract: To evaluate measles incidence and its relevant changes over a 14-year period (2000-2014), we analysed data from the regional hospital discharge database on children and adults hospitalized in Tuscany, Italy. A total of 181 paediatric and 413 adult cases were identified. Despite all the efforts towards regional measles elimination, we observed that the overall measles hospitalization rates for children and adults living in Tuscany globally increased from 0·45 to 0·85/100 000 during the study period (P = 0·001) showing fluctuations due to periodic measles outbreaks. Data stratified by age group showed that the hospitalization rate significantly increased in young adults over the study period, confirming an increase in susceptibility to measles in this subpopulation. Conversely, no statistically significant difference was observed in the hospitalization rate in the other age groups. However, children aged <1 year still exhibit the highest hospitalization rate. Pneumonia represented the most common complication in both the adult and children subsets. No death was reported. Measles still represents a public health problem, and national strategies should be implemented, focusing on emergent susceptible subsets, such as infants and young adults.
authors.affiliation: Anna Meyer Children's University Hospital,Department of Health Sciences,University of Florence,Florence,Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Berti
authors.affiliation: Anna Meyer Children's University Hospital,Department of Health Sciences,University of Florence,Florence,Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sollai
authors.affiliation: Tuscany Regional Government Department of Right to Health and Solidarity Policies,Information Technology Section,Florence,Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Orlandini
authors.affiliation: Anna Meyer Children's University Hospital,Department of Health Sciences,University of Florence,Florence,Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Galli
authors.affiliation: Anna Meyer Children's University Hospital,Department of Health Sciences,University of Florence,Florence,Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: DE Martino
authors.affiliation: Anna Meyer Children's University Hospital,Department of Health Sciences,University of Florence,Florence,Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chiappini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Epidemiology; measles; measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine; outbreaks; public health policy; surveillance