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Cost of influenza and influenza-like syndromes (I-LSs) in Italy: Results of a cross-sectional telephone survey on a representative sample of general p

tetano

Editor, Senior Moderator
Respir Med. 2018 Aug;141:144-149. doi: 10.1016/j.rmed.2018.07.001. Epub 2018 Jul 4.
[h=1]Cost of influenza and influenza-like syndromes (I-LSs) in Italy: Results of a cross-sectional telephone survey on a representative sample of general population.[/h] Dal Negro RW[SUP]1[/SUP], Turco P[SUP]2[/SUP], Povero M[SUP]3[/SUP].
[h=3]Author information[/h]

[h=3]Abstract[/h] [h=4]OBJECTIVES:[/h] Influenza and Influenza-like syndromes (I-LSs) are very common events in general practice, and their relevance is frequently underestimated. Aim of the study was to assess the economic impact of influenza and Influenza-like syndromes (I-LSs) in the Italian general population by using real-world data from a retrospective database.
[h=4]METHODS:[/h] A cross-sectional survey via Computer Assisted Telephone Interview (CATI) was carried out by using a specific questionnaire which is able to assess the rate of infectious episodes, together with subject's behavior in case of influenza or I-LSs, and prescribed therapy. Collected data were statistically analyzed to calculate the economic impact of influenza and I-LSs episodes according to both the National Health System Perspective (NHS-P) and the Italian Families Perspective (S-P). The components of cost were: influenza vaccination, used drugs, General Practitioner (GP) visits, Emergency Room (ER) visits, hospitalizations, and productivity loss.
[h=4]RESULTS:[/h] According to the NHS-P, the annual cost for managing influenza or I-LSs amounted to ? 60.24, corresponding to ? 38.71 per episode. About 72% of the cost was due to GP/ER visits and hospitalization; 22% to drugs, and 6% to vaccination. In the IF-P, the annual cost increased to ? 249.70 (? 140.33 per episode) and almost 90% of the cost was related to workdays lost, while only 11% and 1.3% were due to drugs and vaccination, respectively. Annual cost was highly related to the mean duration of influenza or I-LSs episodes in both perspectives (? 111─388 in IF-P and ? 56─68 in NHS-P). Furthermore, the number of workdays lost due to these episodes showed a significant impact on the overall cost (? 195─304) only in the NHS-P.
[h=4]CONCLUSIONS:[/h] Influenza and I-LSs have a not negligible economic impact, both for the NHS and for the society. Resource consumption is considerable in the NHS-P, while the productivity loss due to people absenteeism causes the most relevant impact in the IF-P.
Copyright ? 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.


[h=4]KEYWORDS:[/h] Cost of illness; Indirect cost; Influenza; Influenza-like syndromes; Productivity loss

PMID: 30053960 DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2018.07.001
 
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