ArticlePloS one2014
Influenza-like-illness and clinically diagnosed flu: disease burden, costs and quality of life for patients seeking ambulatory care or no professional care at all.
Article in PloS one, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 35 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
35 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- The economic burden of influenza among adults aged 18 to 64: A systematic literature review.Influenza and other respiratory viruses · 2022Pooled it
- Characterization of Influenza-Like Illness Burden Using Commercial Wearable Sensor Data and Patient-Reported Outcomes: Mixed Methods Cohort Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2023Trial
- Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (LAIV) for Children for the Prevention of Influenza Illness in Sweden: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis.Infectious diseases and therapy · 2026Article
- Article
- Exploring the association of respiratory infection aetiology with mental well-being scores: a longitudinal study.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Article
- Antimicrobial use for influenza-like illnesses in Nha Trang, Vietnam: a cross-sectional study.BMJ open · 2025Observational
- Article
- Antivirals to prepare for surges in influenza cases: an economic evaluation of baloxavir marboxil for the Netherlands.The European journal of health economics : HEPAC : health economics in prevention and care · 2024Article
- Influenza virus shedding and symptoms: Dynamics and implications from a multiseason household transmission study.PNAS nexus · 2024Article
- Severity-dependent test-seeking behaviors and test-negative designs: impact on estimated vaccine effectiveness and utility of analytic and design choices.American journal of epidemiology · 2024Article
- Cost-effectiveness of seasonal influenza vaccination in WHO-defined high-risk populations in Bangladesh.Journal of global health · 2024Article
- Symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Episodes and Health-Related Quality of Life.Applied health economics and health policy · 2023Article
- Cost-effectiveness of adding oseltamivir to primary care for influenza-like-illness: economic evaluation alongside the randomised controlled ALICThe European journal of health economics : HEPAC : health economics in prevention and care · 2023Article
- Article
- Influenza as an important factor causing increased risk of patients' deaths, excessive morbidity and prolonged hospital stays.Archives of medical science : AMS · 2023Article
- Article
- Estimating the Burden of Influenza-like Illness on Daily Activity at the Population Scale Using Commercial Wearable Sensors.JAMA network open · 2022Article
- [Health Technology Assessment (HTA) of the introduction of influenza vaccination for Italian children with Fluenz TetraJournal of preventive medicine and hygiene · 2021Article
- A comparison of disease burden and symptoms with age among CoVid-19 patients from data in a Florida clinic.Bioinformation · 2021Article
- Impact of quadrivalent influenza vaccines in Brazil: a cost-effectiveness analysis using an influenza transmission model.BMC public health · 2020Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
This is one of the first studies to (1) describe the out-of-hospital burden of influenza-like-illness (ILI) and clinically diagnosed flu, also for patients not seeking professional medical care, (2) assess influential background characteristics, and (3) formally compare the burden of ILI in patients with and without a clinical diagnosis of flu. A general population sample with recent ILI experience was recruited during the 2011-2012 influenza season in Belgium. Half of the 2250 respondents sought professional medical care, reported more symptoms (especially more often fever), a longer duration of illness, more use of medication (especially antibiotics) and a higher direct medical cost than patients not seeking medical care. The disease and economic burden were similar for ambulatory ILI patients, irrespective of whether they received a clinical diagnosis of flu. On average, they experienced 5-6 symptoms over a 6-day period; required 1.6 physician visits and 86-91% took medication. An average episode amounted to €51-€53 in direct medical costs, 4 days of absence from work or school and the loss of 0.005 quality-adjusted life-years. Underlying illness led to greater costs and lower quality-of-life. The costs of ILI patients with clinically diagnosed flu tended to increase, while those of ILI patients without clinically diagnosed flu tended to decrease with age. Recently vaccinated persons experienced lower costs and a higher quality-of-life, but this was only the case for patients not seeking professional medical care. This information can be used directly to evaluate the implementation of cost-effective prevention and control measures for influenza. In particular to inform the evaluation of more widespread seasonal influenza vaccination, including in children, which is currently considered by many countries.
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