Flu and other Acute Respiratory Infections in the Working Population. The Impact of Influenza A (H1N1) Epidemic

Albertí, Constanza; Orriols, Ramon; Manzanera, Rafael; Jardí, Josefina

doi:10.1016/S1579-2129(10)70138-5

Archivos de Bronconeumología

ISSN: 0300-2896

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Vol. 46. Issue 12.

Pages 634-639 (January 2010)

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Pages 634-639 (January 2010)

Original Article

DOI: 10.1016/S1579-2129(10)70138-5

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Flu and other Acute Respiratory Infections in the Working Population. The Impact of Influenza A (H1N1) Epidemic

Gripe y otras infecciones respiratorias agudas en la población trabajadora. Impacto del brote de gripe A (H1N1)

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Constanza Albertía,

Corresponding author

constanca.alberti@gencat.cat

Corresponding author.

, Ramon Orriolsb,c, Rafael Manzaneraa, Josefina Jardía

a Institut Català d’Avaluacions Mèdiques (ICAM), Departament de Salut, Generalitat de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain

b Servei de Pneumologia, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Barcelona, Spain

c CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CibeRes), Barcelona, Spain

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Abstract

Introduction

This study aims to asses the impact of influenza and other acute respiratory infectious diseases (ARI) on the Catalan working population between January 2007 and December 2009, including the period of the influenza virus A (H1N1) pandemic in our region.

Methods

All certified sickness absence episodes (sick-leave) due to influenza and other ARI amongst the working population of Catalonia, Spain, were analyzed from January 2007 to December 2009. Monthly and weekly incidence was calculated, as well as an influenza sick-leave threshold, in order to identify the epidemic season in the working population.

Results

Registered annual sick-leave incidence for influenza-like illnesses (ILI) per 100 000 workers was 1260.6 in 2007, 915.2 in 2008 and 2377.2 in 2009. Epidemic curves show monthly peaks in January- February each year, plus a second peak in November 2009 corresponding to the influenza virus A (H1N1) pandemic in our region. In 2009 sick-leave incidence for ILI and other ARI was higher in workers from the Health-Social Services sector than in the other workers (P<.001).

Conclusion

This study contributes to understanding the impact of influenza and other ARI on the general workforce, during a period of time including the outbreak of influenza virus A (H1N1).

Keywords:

Influenza

Acute respiratory infectious diseases

Sick leave

Occupational health

Resumen

Introducción

El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el impacto que tuvieron la gripe y el resto de infecciones respiratorias agudas (IRA) en la población trabajadora catalana entre enero de 2007 y diciembre de 2009, periodo de tiempo que incluyó el brote de gripe por virus A (H1N1) en nuestro medio.

Métodos

Se analizaron todos los procesos de incapacidad temporal (IT) diagnosticados como gripe o como otras IRA en la población trabajadora de Cataluña, España, entre enero de 2007 y diciembre de 2009. Se calcularon la incidencia semanal y mensual y un umbral epidémico de IT por gripe a partir del cual poder definir el brote epidémico en la población trabajadora.

Resultados

La incidencia acumulada anual de IT por gripe por 100.000 trabajadores fue de 1.260,6 en 2007, 915,2 en 2008 y 2.377,2 en 2009. Las curvas de incidencia indican brotes epidémicos en los meses de enero o febrero de cada año, además de un segundo brote en el mes de noviembre de 2009, coincidiendo con la pandemia de virus A (H1N1) en nuestro país. En 2009 la incidencia de gripe y de otras IRA fue más alta en los trabajadores de los sectores salud-servicios sociales que en el resto de los trabajadores (p < 0,001).

Conclusión

Este estudio contribuye a conocer las consecuencias de la gripe y las otras IRA sobre la población trabajadora, durante un periodo de tiempo que incluyó el brote por virus A (H1N1).

Palabras clave:

Gripe

Infección respiratoria aguda

Incapacidad temporal

Salud laboral

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