CDC

Flu-associated hospitalizations, treatments vary across seasons, ages

November 1, 2024

Influenza-related hospitalizations varied significantly over the past 13 influenza seasons, ranging from 8.7 to 102.9 per 100,000 population pre-pandemic, plummeted to 0.8 in 2020, and returning to pre-pandemic levels by 2022. The data, collected from the Influenza Hospitalization Surveillance Network, underscore the need for continued robust influenza surveillance to improve clinical outcomes and address disparities.

Key findings:

• During each influenza season, older adults (≥65 years) had the highest hospitalization rates.
• Patients with pre-existing conditions represented a large proportion of patients hospitalized with influenza. Asthma was the most common underlying medical condition among children; in adults, hypertension, obesity, chronic metabolic disease, chronic lung disease, and CV disease were most often seen.
• Although influenza antiviral use increased during the 2010–11 through 2017–18 influenza seasons, it decreased from 90.2% during 2018–19 to 79.1% during 2022–23, particularly among children and adolescents.
• Admission to ICU, need for invasive mechanical ventilation, and in-hospital death ranged from 14.1% to 22.3%, 4.9% to 11.1%, and 2.2% to 3.5% of patients hospitalized with influenza, respectively, during the surveillance period.

Source:

Naquin A, et al. (2024, October 31). CDC. Laboratory-Confirmed Influenza-Associated Hospitalizations Among Children and Adults - Influenza Hospitalization Surveillance Network, United States, 2010-2023. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/ss/ss7306a1.htm