Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41611945›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2026

The effect of non-pharmaceutical interventions on influenza throughout the COVID-19 pandemic: an 8-year interrupted time series study.

Zhirui Li, Lijun Zhou, Xingyu Zhou, Qian Zhang, Zixuan Fan, Chongkun Xiao

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

6 authors.

Zhirui Li *Department of Disease Control and Prevention, Sichuan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu, 610000, Sichuan, China.
Lijun Zhou *Department of Disease Control and Prevention, Sichuan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu, 610000, Sichuan, China.
Xingyu ZhouDepartment of Disease Control and Prevention, Sichuan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu, 610000, Sichuan, China.
Qian ZhangDepartment of Oncology, Xiamen Fifth Hospital, Xiamen, 361000, Fujian, China.
Zixuan FanKey Laboratory of Regional Sustainable Development Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
Chongkun XiaoDepartment of Disease Control and Prevention, Sichuan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu, 610000, Sichuan, China. fangy27001@163.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Limited information is available on the impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) and immune debt on influenza during COVID-19. This retrospective population-based research examined the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence of influenza-like illness (ILI) cases and influenza positive cases in Sichuan Province. Interrupted time series analysis (ITS) was conducted using data gathered from surveillance hospitals throughout 21 cities, including information on patients diagnosed with ILI and positive nucleic acid testing. Subsequent to the implementation of NPIs, there was a notable temporary reduction in both the incidence of ILI cases and confirmed influenza cases, decreasing by 94.7% and 98.0%, respectively (P<0.001). The weekly trend in influenza-positive cases was notable (+4.1%/week, P=0.001). Following the execution of the second-phase intervention, the fluctuations in the transient changes of ILI patients and influenza-positive cases varied; nonetheless, both subsequently exhibited a significant declining trend (P<0.001). Temperature had a substantial negative correlation with both indicators (P<0.001), resulting in a reduction of instances by 13.0% and 11.5%, respectively; humidity demonstrated no statistically significant impact on either. Our data demonstrate that NPIs significantly reduce two influenza outcome indicators in the short term; nevertheless, they do not effectuate a sustainable alteration in the long-term increasing trend of influenza. Through the examination of the dynamic effects of NPIs on influenza transmission, we provide policymakers with an enhanced evaluative instrument, a decision-making framework, and theoretical backing, while also contemplating the prospective advantages and hazards of NPIs for additional respiratory infectious diseases in the future.

Indexed as

COVID-19Influenza, HumanChinaHumansIncidenceInterrupted Time Series AnalysisPandemicsRetrospective StudiesSARS-CoV-2Covid-19Immunity debtInfluenzaInterrupted time series analysis (ITSA)Non-pharmacological interventions

Identifiers

PMID41611945
PMCPMC12913972

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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.