Substantial number of life years lost due to H1N1 pandemic

IDSA 49th Annual Meeting

BOSTON — Because the 2009 H1N1 virus caused the most serious morbidity and mortality in those aged younger than 65 years, a substantial number — about 9.9 million — of life years were lost, according to calculations from the CDC.

Fatimah S. Dawood, MD, and colleagues from the CDC examined data on 2009 H1N1 symptomatic attack rates and fatality ratios from a number of countries to calculate the median ranges of lower respiratory tract mortality rates in each WHO region and mortality stratum in the first year of virus circulation.

Based on their calculations, Dawood and colleagues estimated that 249,000 (90% CI, 48,000-716,000) 2009 H1N1 deaths occurred globally, according to a presentation here at the IDSA 49th Annual Meeting.

“Estimated 2009 H1N1 respiratory mortality was at least twofold higher than reported laboratory-confirmed deaths, and lower resource countries were disproportionately affected,” the researchers wrote in their abstract.

They said most of the deaths (58%) occurred in Africa and Southeast Asia. The researchers estimated that about 216,000 of the deaths (87%) occurred in those aged younger than 65 years, resulting in an estimated 9.9 million (90% CI 3,933,000-18,820,000) years of life lost.

“Although estimated mortality may have been lower than that of some prior pandemics, the majority of 2009 H1N1 deaths were in persons less than 65 years, resulting in a substantial number of years of life lost,” the researchers concluded.

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.

For more information:

Dawood FS. #1125. Presented at: IDSA 49th Annual Meeting; Oct. 20-23, 2011; Boston.

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