Are well-child visits a risk factor for subsequent influenza-like illness visits?

Jacob E Simmering; Linnea A Polgreen; Joseph E Cavanaugh; Philip M Polgreen

doi:10.1086/675281

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Are well-child visits a risk factor for subsequent influenza-like illness visits?

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Are well-child visits a risk factor for subsequent influenza-like illness visits?

Jacob E Simmering, Linnea A Polgreen, Joseph E Cavanaugh and Philip M Polgreen

Infection control and hospital epidemiology, Vol.35(3), pp.251-256

03/2014

DOI: 10.1086/675281

PMCID: PMC4380138

PMID: 24521589

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Abstract

To determine whether well-child visits are a risk factor for subsequent influenza-like illness (ILI) visits within a child's family. Retrospective cohort. Using data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey from the years 1996-2008, we identified 84,595 families. For each family, we determined those weeks in which a well-child visit or an ILI visit occurred. We identified 23,776 well-child-visit weeks and 97,250 ILI-visit weeks. We fitted a logistic regression model, where the binary dependent variable indicated an ILI clinic visit in a particular week. Independent variables included binary indicators to denote a well-child visit in the concurrent week or one of the previous 2 weeks, the occurrence of the ILI visit during the influenza season, and the presence of children in the family in each of the age groups 0-3, 4-7, and 8-17 years. Socioeconomic variables were also included. We also estimated the overall cost of well-child-exam-related ILI using data from 2008. We found that an ILI office visit by a family member was positively associated with a well-child visit in the same or one of the previous 2 weeks (odds ratio, 1.54). This additional risk translates to potentially 778,974 excess cases of ILI per year in the United States, with a cost of $500 million annually. Our results should encourage ambulatory clinics to strictly enforce infection control recommendations. In addition, clinics could consider time-shifting of well-child visits so as not to coincide with the peak of the influenza season.

Office Visits - statistics & numerical data

United States - epidemiology

Cross Infection - etiology

Humans

Risk Factors

Child, Preschool

Infant

Influenza, Human - epidemiology

Logistic Models

Influenza, Human - etiology

Socioeconomic Factors

Adolescent

Child

Infant, Newborn

Cross Infection - epidemiology

Details

Title: Subtitle: Are well-child visits a risk factor for subsequent influenza-like illness visits?
Creators: Jacob E Simmering - Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Linnea A Polgreen
Joseph E Cavanaugh
Philip M Polgreen
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Infection control and hospital epidemiology, Vol.35(3), pp.251-256
DOI: 10.1086/675281
PMID: 24521589
PMCID: PMC4380138
NLM abbreviation: Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol
ISSN: 0899-823X
eISSN: 1559-6834
Publisher: United States
Grant note: K01 AI75089 / NIAID NIH HHS K01 AI075089 / NIAID NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 03/2014
Academic Unit: Statistics and Actuarial Science; Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Occupational Medicine; Infectious Diseases; Health Management and Policy; Epidemiology; Economics; Biostatistics; Pharmacy Practice and Science; Injury Prevention Research Center; Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9983985892902771

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