Mortality and morbidity estimates for influenza infection in Asia-Pacific countries

Abstract

Influenza viruses cause disease in all age groups, and severe disease particularly in the extremes of age. I reviewed studies that reported population-based estimates of influenza-associated hospitalizations and excess mortality. To allow comparison with other countries, rates were directly standardized to the World Standard Population. There was heterogeneity in age-standardized excess all-cause mortality rates based on reports from various Asia-Pacific countries, with age-standardized estimates between 5 and 8 deaths per 100,000 persons per year. The burden of influenza is substantial in Asia Pacific countries, although most data come from a small number of locations. Further studies are needed to characterize more fully the burden of influenza in Asia Pacific countries.