Cross-sectional study of influenza trends and costs in Malaysia between 2016 and 2018

Background and objectives While influenza circulates year-round in Malaysia, research data on its incidence is scarce. Yet, this information is vital to the improvement of public health through evidence-based policies. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to determine the trends and financial cos...

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Main Authors: Puteh, Sharifa Ezat Wan, Aazmi, Mohd Shafiq, Aziz, Muhammad Nazri, Kamarudin, Noor Adilah, Sam, Jamal I-Ching, Thayan, Ravindran, Mahiyuddin, Wan Rozita Wan, Mohamed Noor, Wan Noraini Wan, Cheong, Adelina, Guerche-Séblain, Clotilde El, Khor, Jean, Zamri, Eva Nabiha, Lam, Jia Yong, Sekawi, Zamberi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science 2024
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/115604/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/115604/1/115604.pdf
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author Puteh, Sharifa Ezat Wan
Aazmi, Mohd Shafiq
Aziz, Muhammad Nazri
Kamarudin, Noor Adilah
Sam, Jamal I-Ching
Thayan, Ravindran
Mahiyuddin, Wan Rozita Wan
Mohamed Noor, Wan Noraini Wan
Cheong, Adelina
Guerche-Séblain, Clotilde El
Khor, Jean
Zamri, Eva Nabiha
Lam, Jia Yong
Sekawi, Zamberi
author_facet Puteh, Sharifa Ezat Wan
Aazmi, Mohd Shafiq
Aziz, Muhammad Nazri
Kamarudin, Noor Adilah
Sam, Jamal I-Ching
Thayan, Ravindran
Mahiyuddin, Wan Rozita Wan
Mohamed Noor, Wan Noraini Wan
Cheong, Adelina
Guerche-Séblain, Clotilde El
Khor, Jean
Zamri, Eva Nabiha
Lam, Jia Yong
Sekawi, Zamberi
author_sort Puteh, Sharifa Ezat Wan
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Background and objectives While influenza circulates year-round in Malaysia, research data on its incidence is scarce. Yet, this information is vital to the improvement of public health through evidence-based policies. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to determine the trends and financial costs of influenza. Methods Data for the years 2016 through 2018 were gathered retrospectively from several sources. These were existing Ministry of Health (MOH) influenza sentinel sites data, two teaching hospitals, and two private medical institutions in the Klang Valley, Malaysia. Expert consensus determined the final estimates of burden for laboratory-confirmed influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infection (SARI). Economic burden was estimated separately using secondary data supplemented by MOH casemix costing. Results Altogether, data for 11,652 cases of ILI and 5,764 cases of SARI were extracted. The influenza B subtype was found to be predominant in 2016, while influenza A was more prevalent in 2017 and 2018. The distribution timeline revealed that the highest frequency of cases occurred in March and April of all three years. The costs of influenza amounted to MYR 310.9 million over the full three-year period. Conclusions The study provides valuable insights into the dynamic landscape of influenza in Malaysia. The findings reveal a consistent year-round presence of influenza with irregular seasonal peaks, including a notable influenza A epidemic in 2017 and consistent surges in influenza B incidence during March across three years. These findings underscore the significance of continuous monitoring influenza subtypes for informed healthcare strategies as well as advocate for the integration of influenza vaccination into Malaysia’s national immunization program, enhancing overall pandemic preparedness.
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spelling upm-1156042025-03-07T02:41:54Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/115604/ Cross-sectional study of influenza trends and costs in Malaysia between 2016 and 2018 Puteh, Sharifa Ezat Wan Aazmi, Mohd Shafiq Aziz, Muhammad Nazri Kamarudin, Noor Adilah Sam, Jamal I-Ching Thayan, Ravindran Mahiyuddin, Wan Rozita Wan Mohamed Noor, Wan Noraini Wan Cheong, Adelina Guerche-Séblain, Clotilde El Khor, Jean Zamri, Eva Nabiha Lam, Jia Yong Sekawi, Zamberi Background and objectives While influenza circulates year-round in Malaysia, research data on its incidence is scarce. Yet, this information is vital to the improvement of public health through evidence-based policies. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to determine the trends and financial costs of influenza. Methods Data for the years 2016 through 2018 were gathered retrospectively from several sources. These were existing Ministry of Health (MOH) influenza sentinel sites data, two teaching hospitals, and two private medical institutions in the Klang Valley, Malaysia. Expert consensus determined the final estimates of burden for laboratory-confirmed influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infection (SARI). Economic burden was estimated separately using secondary data supplemented by MOH casemix costing. Results Altogether, data for 11,652 cases of ILI and 5,764 cases of SARI were extracted. The influenza B subtype was found to be predominant in 2016, while influenza A was more prevalent in 2017 and 2018. The distribution timeline revealed that the highest frequency of cases occurred in March and April of all three years. The costs of influenza amounted to MYR 310.9 million over the full three-year period. Conclusions The study provides valuable insights into the dynamic landscape of influenza in Malaysia. The findings reveal a consistent year-round presence of influenza with irregular seasonal peaks, including a notable influenza A epidemic in 2017 and consistent surges in influenza B incidence during March across three years. These findings underscore the significance of continuous monitoring influenza subtypes for informed healthcare strategies as well as advocate for the integration of influenza vaccination into Malaysia’s national immunization program, enhancing overall pandemic preparedness. Public Library of Science 2024-03-22 Article PeerReviewed text en cc_by_4 http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/115604/1/115604.pdf Puteh, Sharifa Ezat Wan and Aazmi, Mohd Shafiq and Aziz, Muhammad Nazri and Kamarudin, Noor Adilah and Sam, Jamal I-Ching and Thayan, Ravindran and Mahiyuddin, Wan Rozita Wan and Mohamed Noor, Wan Noraini Wan and Cheong, Adelina and Guerche-Séblain, Clotilde El and Khor, Jean and Zamri, Eva Nabiha and Lam, Jia Yong and Sekawi, Zamberi (2024) Cross-sectional study of influenza trends and costs in Malaysia between 2016 and 2018. PLoS ONE, 19 (3 March). art. no. e0301068. ISSN 1932-6203; eISSN: 1932-6203 https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0301068 10.1371/journal.pone.0301068
spellingShingle Puteh, Sharifa Ezat Wan
Aazmi, Mohd Shafiq
Aziz, Muhammad Nazri
Kamarudin, Noor Adilah
Sam, Jamal I-Ching
Thayan, Ravindran
Mahiyuddin, Wan Rozita Wan
Mohamed Noor, Wan Noraini Wan
Cheong, Adelina
Guerche-Séblain, Clotilde El
Khor, Jean
Zamri, Eva Nabiha
Lam, Jia Yong
Sekawi, Zamberi
Cross-sectional study of influenza trends and costs in Malaysia between 2016 and 2018
title Cross-sectional study of influenza trends and costs in Malaysia between 2016 and 2018
title_full Cross-sectional study of influenza trends and costs in Malaysia between 2016 and 2018
title_fullStr Cross-sectional study of influenza trends and costs in Malaysia between 2016 and 2018
title_full_unstemmed Cross-sectional study of influenza trends and costs in Malaysia between 2016 and 2018
title_short Cross-sectional study of influenza trends and costs in Malaysia between 2016 and 2018
title_sort cross-sectional study of influenza trends and costs in malaysia between 2016 and 2018
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/115604/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/115604/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/115604/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/115604/1/115604.pdf