The population based socioeconomic burden of pediatric influenza-associated hospitalization in Hong Kong

Vaccine. 2012 Feb 27;30(10):1895-900. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2011.12.027. Epub 2012 Jan 2.

Abstract

We described the monetary and non-monetary cost incurred by children hospitalized for virologically confirmed influenza virus infection in a population-based prospective 3-year study. The mean direct and indirect cost of each child hospitalized was $1217.82 (95% CI, 1111.54-1324.23) and $1328.33 (95% CI, $1136.79-1520.00) for influenza A and B, respectively. School age patients took a mean (SD) of 4.70 (3.05) days and 5.31 (3.62) days of sick leave for influenza A and B infection, respectively. Pediatric influenza A and B hospitalization was associated with 662-1046 days of school absenteeism and 214-336 days of parental work loss per 10,000 population <18 years of age per year. We showed that the cost incurred by hospitalization alone, was comparable to the cost of annual universal pediatric influenza vaccination especially in children 6 months to under 6 years of age and vaccination would result in much larger cost-savings when non-monetary costs are included.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cost of Illness*
  • Female
  • Hong Kong / epidemiology
  • Hospitalization / economics*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Influenza Vaccines / economics
  • Influenza, Human / economics*
  • Influenza, Human / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Prospective Studies
  • Sick Leave

Substances

  • Influenza Vaccines