What is it about?
The article summaries 6 years of influenza data among U.S. Veterans, including the number of laboratory-confirmed influenza infections as well as influenza-coded telephone nurse triage calls, antiviral prescriptions, immunizations, outpatient visits, hospitalizations, and deaths from 2010-2016. We also examine the timing of peak influenza activity each season and correlation between VA and national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) influenza data.
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Why is it important?
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is the largest integrated healthcare system in the United States, with over 9 million enrollees in all 50 states and U.S. territories. Our analysis of influenza data from this patient population is highly correlated with national civilian influenza data. This data is also important for evaluating prevention priorities and resource allocation within VA.
Perspectives
Influenza surveillance data from VA can serve as a window into national influenza activity. Due to VA's robust electronic medical record, influenza surveillance data is timely and more readily available for analysis than data from other healthcare providers. It provides valuable information for development of influenza prevention and control strategies, resource allocation and supply distribution which could have relevance for healthcare systems and providers throughout the United States. Data from VA could prove to be a valuable addition to CDC's existing national influenza surveillance network.
Dr. Cynthia Lucero-Obusan
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Epidemiology and burden of influenza in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses, December 2017, Wiley,
DOI: 10.1111/irv.12512.
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