Influenza-associated paediatric respiratory hospitalizations in China, 1996–2012: a systematic analysis

• Main Authors: Mei Shang, Kathryn E. Lafond, Jeffrey McFarland, Suizan Zhou, John Klena, Marc-Alain Widdowson
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific 2019-09-01
• Series: Western Pacific Surveillance and Response
• Subjects: influenza; pediatric respiratory hospitalizations; china
• Online Access: https://ojs.wpro.who.int/ojs/index.php/wpsar/article/view/593/847
• ISSN: 2094-7321; 2094-7313

Background: The World Health Organization recommends that children aged ≥6 months be vaccinated against influenza. Influenza vaccination policies depend on the evidence of the burden of influenza, yet few national data on influenza-associated severe outcomes among children exist in China. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of articles published from 1996 to 2012 on laboratory-confirmed, influenza-associated paediatric respiratory hospitalizations in China. We extracted data and stratified the percentage of samples testing positive for influenza by age group (<2, <5 and <18 years old); case definition; test methods; and geographic location. The pooled percentage of samples testing positive for influenza was estimated with a random effects regression model. Results: Influenza was associated with 8.8% of respiratory hospitalizations among children aged <18 years, ranging from 7.0% (95% confidence interval: 4.2–9.8%) in children aged <2 years to 8.9% (95% confidence interval: 6.8–11%) in children aged <5 years. The percentage of samples testing positive for influenza was consistently higher among studies with data from children aged <5 years and <18 years than those restricted only to children aged <2 years; the percentages were higher in Northern China than Southern China. Discussion: Influenza is an important cause of paediatric respiratory hospitalizations in China. Influenza vaccination of school-aged children could prevent substantial influenza-associated illness, including hospitalizations, in China.