Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39962921›Full record

ArticleInfluenza and other respiratory viruses2025

Comparative Analysis of Influenza Epidemiology Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic in Argentina (2018-2019 vs. 2022-2023).

Angela Gentile, María Del Valle Juárez, Gabriela Ensinck, Oscar Lopez, Pablo Melonari, Tatiana Fernández, Andrés Gioiosa, Gustavo Lazarte, Silvina Lobertti, María Florencia Lucion and 4 more

Abstract readComparative StudyMulticenter Study
In one paragraph

Article in Influenza and other respiratory viruses, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Angela GentileEpidemiology, Hospital de Niños "Ricardo Gutiérrez", Buenos Aires, Argentina.
María Del Valle JuárezEpidemiology, Hospital de Niños "Ricardo Gutiérrez", Buenos Aires, Argentina.ORCID 0000-0002-0906-4698
Gabriela EnsinckInfectious diseases, Hospital de Niños "Dr. Víctor J. Vilela", Rosario, Argentina.
Oscar LopezInfectious diseases, Hospital Pediátrico "Dr. Fernando Barreyro", Posadas, Argentina.
Pablo MelonariInfectious diseases, Hospital Pediátrico "Dr. Humberto Notti", Mendoza, Argentina.
Tatiana FernándezInfectious diseases, Hospital Nacional "Profesor Alejandro Posadas", Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Andrés GioiosaInfectious diseases, Hospital Nacional "Profesor Alejandro Posadas", Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Gustavo LazarteInfectious diseases, Hospital de Niños "Dr. Víctor J. Vilela", Rosario, Argentina.
Silvina LoberttiInfectious diseases, Hospital de Niños "Dr. Víctor J. Vilela", Rosario, Argentina.
María Florencia LucionEpidemiology, Hospital de Niños "Ricardo Gutiérrez", Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Natalia PejitoEpidemiology, Hospital de Niños "Ricardo Gutiérrez", Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Camila RacanaEpidemiology, Hospital de Niños "Ricardo Gutiérrez", Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Leandro LópezInfectious diseases, Hospital Pediátrico "Dr. Fernando Barreyro", Posadas, Argentina.
Gabriela GregorioInfectious diseases, Hospital Nacional "Profesor Alejandro Posadas", Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionThe COVID-19 pandemic altered the epidemiology of respiratory viruses other than SARS-CoV-2. This study investigated the clinical-epidemiological pattern of hospitalized pediatric patients with acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRI) and influenza in Argentina, comparing prepandemic and postpandemic periods. MATERIALS AND

methodsThis multicenter, cross-sectional study included patients under 18 years old admitted for ALRIs in five tertiary centers of Argentina before (2018 and 2019) and after (2022 and 2023) COVID-19. Changes in viral detection rates, seasonality, and case fatality rate (CFR), along with epidemiological and clinical characteristics, were analyzed. Indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) or RT-PCR was used for virological diagnosis pre-pandemic, and only RT-PCR in post-pandemic. Epi Info 7 and SPSS 15.0 was used for data analysis.

resultsA total of 5838 cases of ALRI were included (mean age: 9.5 months; IQR: 4-22 months); 96.6% were tested for viral detection, and 66.4% were positive (3877 cases). Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was the most prevalent. Influenza showed typical winter seasonality in 2018, 2019, and 2023. However, 2022 exhibited a bimodal pattern: late summer and spring, with co-circulation of influenza A and B in the second peak. CFR varied by viral diagnosis; influenza showed the highest CFR, all deaths related to influenza A. Among 354 influenza cases, 81% were < 5 years old, 53% were male, 63% had comorbidities, and 14.1% required intensive care. Mean of influenza vaccine coverage (6-24 months) was 21.4%. In both periods, patients with influenza were more likely to have pneumonia. Additionally, in the postpandemic period, malnourishment or being 3 years of age or older was also associated with a higher likelihood of influenza infection compared with infection with other respiratory viruses.

conclusionsInfluenza primarily affected children under 5 years old. Postpandemic cases involved older individuals, and increased circulation of influenza A H3N2 was observed. Vaccination coverage was notably low. Influenza returned to its usual seasonal pattern in 2023.

Indexed as

COVID-19Influenza, HumanAdolescentArgentinaChildChild, PreschoolCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHospitalizationHumansInfantMalePandemicsRespiratory Tract InfectionsSARS-CoV-2SeasonsALRIcase fatality rateinfluenzainfluenza vaccine coverage

Identifiers

PMID39962921
PMCPMC11832905

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.