Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #104424

Catherine D. Cooksley, DrPH¹, Elenir B. C. Avritscher, MD, MBA/MHA¹, and Linda S. Elting, DrPH². (1) Section of Health Services Research, Department of Biostatistics and Applied Mathematics, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd. Unit 196, Houston, TX 77030, 713-563-4304, ccooksle@mail.mdanderson.org, (2) Section Chief, Health Services Research, Department of Biostatistics and Applied Mathematics, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Unit 196, Houston, TX 77030

Background: Influenza infection leads to serious clinical and economic outcomes among immunocompromised hosts. However, information on cancer patients is limited. Methods: We studied a population-based sub-sample of hospitalized cancer patients with principal diagnoses of influenza, bronchopneumonia or pneumonia unspecified organism, which was selected from the 1998-2001 Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Among pneumonia cases, we included only random observations equal to the expected number of seasonal excess cases due to influenza for each year and stratum (Fall/Winter - Spring/Summer cases). Adjusted to 2003 dollars, charges were converted to costs using 2003 Medicare cost-to-charge ratios. Subset analyses including ANOVA resulted in weighted sample means and proportions. Results: Annually, nearly 16,000 adult cancer patients were admitted for influenza-related illness. On average, hospitalization lasted nearly a week and cost $6300. Case-fatality rates exceeded 9% overall and exceeded 12% among lung cancer patients. Conclusions: Substantial economic and clinical burden from this preventable infection were observed. Vaccination of patients and their contacts with inactivated influenza vaccine could reduce hospitalizations, costs and deaths in this high-risk population.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to

• Describe how a national inpatient database can be used to assess hospitalization for influenza in cancer patients.
• Recognize that cancer patients have a high case-fatality rate if influenza becomes serious enough to require hospitalization.
• Identify the benefits of vaccinating cancer patients against influenza to be
  reduction of mortality and fewer hospitalizations.
  • Prioritize cancer patients and their contacts as "high-risk" and encourage their inclusion in influenza vaccination programs.

  Presenting author's disclosure statement:
  

  I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

  Vaccine Preventable Disease Epidemiology

  The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA