{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Two decades of influenza and pneumonia mortality trends: Demographics, regional shifts and disparities in the United States: 1999 to 2020.
{Author}: Ashraf H;Ashfaq H;Ahmed S;Ashraf A;
{Journal}: Am J Infect Control
{Volume}: 0
{Issue}: 0
{Year}: 2024 May 21
{Factor}: 4.303
{DOI}: 10.1016/j.ajic.2024.05.003
{Abstract}: <B>BACKGROUND: </B>In the 20th century, influenza and pneumonia constituted the largest proportion of infectious disease deaths in the United States. Despite progress in management, US mortality trends for these diseases have not been thoroughly investigated.<BR><B>OBJECTIVE: </B>We aim to examine the patterns of influenza and pneumonia-related deaths among US residents.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Crude death rates and age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) per 100,000 individuals were calculated using influenza and pneumonia mortality data (International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision codes: J09-J18) from the CDC WONDER database. Annual percentage changes with a 95% confidence interval were determined using joinpoint regression analysis. Average annual percentage changes were computed as the weighted average of annual percentage changes.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>From 1999 to 2020, US influenza and pneumonia deaths totaled 1,257,088 (AAMR: 17.09), with a significantly decreasing AAMR (-2.94). Males had a higher AAMR (20.13) than females (15.02). Non-Hispanic American Indians had the highest AAMR (20.44), while Hispanics had the lowest AAMR (13.91). The Northeast had the highest AAMR (18.02). All other regions had similar AAMRs. Rural regions had a consistently higher AAMR (19.80) than urban regions (AAMR: 16.51).<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>Tailoring interventions toward high-risk groups can enhance the effectiveness of preventive measures, vaccination, and health care access.