BACKGROUND: Objectives of this study were to evaluate the frequency of varicella-related hospitalizations in Italy in 2006-2011, and to analyze hospitalizations rates (HR) by age and by the different vaccination policies. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of hospitalization data from Italian hospital discharge forms, provided by the Italian Ministry of Health (Ufficio VI Programmazione Sanitaria). We considered the following codes by ICD9-CM system: 0520, 0521, 0522, 0527, 0528, 0529 (primary or secondary diagnosis). Data were analyzed to obtain HR of varicella by age, and by different vaccination policies in three different Italian areas: area 1, with a vaccination mass policy (Veneto, Sicily, Puglia, Tuscany), area 2, with policy of vaccinating susceptible adolescents and at-risk population (Piedmont, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Liguria, Lazio, Campania, Basilicata, Calabria and Sardinia) and area 3 with policy of vaccination of only at-risk population (the remaining regions). The denominator for HR was calculated using resident population numbers according to the National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT). RESULTS: 10,483 hospitalizations for varicella were identified, 38.7% (4059) of which, with complications. The following national HR were recorded: 4.2/100,000 inhabitants in 2006, 3.1/100,000 in 2007, 3.3/100,000 in 2008 and 2.7/100,000 in 2009-2010-2011. Annual HR declined in all age groups from 0 to 34 years but remained stable in the older patients. The highest HR were in group of 1-4 years (42.2/100,000 in 2006 – 26.9/100.000 in 2011). In area 1 HR significantly declined from 6.2/100.000 in 2006 to 1.8/100.000 residents in 2011, while in the other areas they didn’t change (test for trend, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the positive impact of universal vaccination and the need to make uniform the vaccine policies in the whole country.

Different regional vaccination policies and varicella-related hospitalizations in Italy in 2006-2011: cross sectional study utilizing national Hospital Discharge Database.

MATTEI, ANTONELLA
2013-01-01

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Objectives of this study were to evaluate the frequency of varicella-related hospitalizations in Italy in 2006-2011, and to analyze hospitalizations rates (HR) by age and by the different vaccination policies. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of hospitalization data from Italian hospital discharge forms, provided by the Italian Ministry of Health (Ufficio VI Programmazione Sanitaria). We considered the following codes by ICD9-CM system: 0520, 0521, 0522, 0527, 0528, 0529 (primary or secondary diagnosis). Data were analyzed to obtain HR of varicella by age, and by different vaccination policies in three different Italian areas: area 1, with a vaccination mass policy (Veneto, Sicily, Puglia, Tuscany), area 2, with policy of vaccinating susceptible adolescents and at-risk population (Piedmont, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Liguria, Lazio, Campania, Basilicata, Calabria and Sardinia) and area 3 with policy of vaccination of only at-risk population (the remaining regions). The denominator for HR was calculated using resident population numbers according to the National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT). RESULTS: 10,483 hospitalizations for varicella were identified, 38.7% (4059) of which, with complications. The following national HR were recorded: 4.2/100,000 inhabitants in 2006, 3.1/100,000 in 2007, 3.3/100,000 in 2008 and 2.7/100,000 in 2009-2010-2011. Annual HR declined in all age groups from 0 to 34 years but remained stable in the older patients. The highest HR were in group of 1-4 years (42.2/100,000 in 2006 – 26.9/100.000 in 2011). In area 1 HR significantly declined from 6.2/100.000 in 2006 to 1.8/100.000 residents in 2011, while in the other areas they didn’t change (test for trend, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the positive impact of universal vaccination and the need to make uniform the vaccine policies in the whole country.
2013
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11697/27862
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