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Why important?
Influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory disease caused by a virus that, on average afflicts 5 to 20 percent of the population and results in more than 36,000 deaths in the U.S. every year.¹

 

Risk factors
The flu virus is spread through human-to-human contact, and the most common symptoms include high fever, headache, extreme fatigue, muscle aches, cough, sore throat, and nasal congestion.  The elderly, young children, and individuals with certain health conditions are especially vulnerable and more likely to require hospitalization.

How is Hawaii doing?
While 2007 represented the lowest number of hospitilzation for influenza since 2004, there is annual volatility.  While the number of hosptilizations in 2007 was 38 percent less that the number of admissions in 2005 and 30 percent lower than the number of 2006 hospitalizations the number was 24 percent higher that 2004. The island of Kauai had the highest rate for hospitalization followed by Oahu. The elderly are most likely to be hospitalized for flu.  The in-hospital death rate for patients 65 years and older with influenza was more than five times the death rate for influenza patients aged 45 to 64. In 2007, 57 hospitalizations occurred where influenza was the primary reason the person was admitted; 119 hospitalizations occurred in which influenza was noted during the hospital stay. 

Other views
• By island
• By year
• By age
• By age and mortality

• Utilization: patients, days, charges

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¹ CDC. Key Facts about Influenza and the Influenza Vaccine. August 30, 2006. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/pdf/keyfacts.pdf.

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