Estimating the True Burden of Legionnaires' Disease.

Estimating the True Burden of Legionnaires' Disease. Am J Epidemiol. 2019 Jun 21;: Authors: Cassell K, Gacek P, Rabatsky-Ehr T, Petit S, Cartter M, Weinberger DM Abstract Over the past decade, the reported incidence of Legionnaires' disease (LD) in the Northeastern US has increased, reaching 1-3 cases per 100,000. There is reason to suspect this is an underestimate of the true burden as cases may be underdiagnosed. In this analysis of pneumonia and influenza hospitalizations (P&I), we estimate the percentage of cases due to Legionella, influenza and RSV by age group. We fit mixed effects models to estimate attributable percentage using weekly time series data of P&I hospitalizations in Connecticut from 2000 to 2014. Model-fitted values were used to calculate estimates of P&I attributable to Legionella (and influenza and RSV) by age group, season, and year. Our models estimated that 1.9%, 8.8% and 5.0% of total (all ages) inpatient P&I hospitalizations could be attributed to Legionella, influenza, and RSV, respectively. Only 10.6% of total predicted LD cases had been clinically diagnosed with LD during the study period. The observed incidence rate of 1.2 cases per 100,000 was substantially fewer than our estimated 11.7 cases per 100,000. Our estimates of P&I attributable to Legionella are comparable to those provided from etiologic studies of community acquired pneumonia and emphasize the potential for underdiagnos...
Source: Am J Epidemiol - Category: Epidemiology Authors: Tags: Am J Epidemiol Source Type: research