US healthcare costs attributable to type A and type B influenza

Abstract

While the overall healthcare burden of seasonal influenza in the United States (US) has been well characterized, the proportion of influenza burden attributable to type A and type B illness warrants further elucidation. The aim of this study was to estimate numbers of healthcare encounters and healthcare costs attributable to influenza viral strains A and B in the US during the 2001/2002 – 2008/2009 seasons. Healthcare encounters and costs in the US during the 2001/2002 – 2008/2009 seasons for influenza type A and influenza type B were estimated separately and collectively, by season and age group, based on data from published literature and secondary sources for: rates of influenza-related encounters requiring formal healthcare, unit costs of influenza-related healthcare encounters, and estimates of population size. Across 8 seasons, projected annual numbers of influenza-related healthcare encounters ranged from 11.3–25.6 million, and healthcare costs, from $2.0–$5.8 billion. While the majority of influenza illness was attributable to type A strains, type B strains accounted for 37% of healthcare costs across all seasons, and as much as 66% in a single season. The outpatient burden of type B disease was considerable among persons aged 18–64 y while the hospital cost burden was highest in young children. Influenza viral strain B was associated with considerable health system burden each year during the period of interest. Increasing influenza vaccine coverage, especially with the recently approved quadrivalent products including an additional type B strain, could potentially reduce overall annual influenza burden in the US.

Peaks in online inquiries into pharyngitis-related symptoms correspond with annual incidence rates

“…The economic burden of therapy and doctors’ visits are, therefore, enormous with annual costs of approximately 1.2 billion US dollars in the USA [ 5 ]. In contrast, annual healthcare costs in the USA for the much more prevalent and potentially more severe influenza type A and B infections ranged from 2 to 5.8 billion US dollars [ 27 ]. A possible cost reduction of 30% was estimated with reduced unnecessary visits to outpatient departments and further 7.3% when cutting the futile antibiotic therapy for patients with an acute pharyngitis [ 5 ].…”

Influenza B infections in children: A review

“…The second lineage was discovered in 1983. Since then frequent outbreaks of IFB have occurred worldwide[ 1 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]. From 2001 onwards, both IFB lineages have been co-circulating each influenza season.…”

“…In particular, children under 5 years of age are more susceptible to influenza illness as they are an immunologically naïve population. IFB caused significant morbidity in children in the United States during 2004-2011, and in the United Kingdom during 2010-2011 seasons[ 1 - 3 , 5 , 6 ]. The influenza-associated disease burden among infants and young children is likely to be underestimated because of the similarity of illness caused by other respiratory viruses during an influenza season.…”

Predicting intention to receive a seasonal influenza vaccination using Protection Motivation Theory

“…Predicting intention to receive a seasonal influenza vaccination using Protection Motivation Theory Seasonal influenza is a major contributor to ill health and lost productivity, with an estimated annual direct cost to healthcare of $3.5 billion in the United States alone (Yan, Weycker, & Sokolowski, 2017), and is a significant contributor to early mortality particularly among the elderly (Thompson, Comanor, & Shay, 2006). Vaccination is an effective strategy for the minimisation of influenza related harms, with 2016-17 vaccination reducing the risk of medically attended acute respiratory illness by an estimated 48% (Flannery et al, 2017), and well-matched vaccination estimated to reduce all-cause mortality in nursing home residents by 2% (Pop-Vicas, Rahman, Gozalo, Gravenstein, & Mor, 2015).…”