ESTIMATING INFLUENZA-RELATED HOSPITALIZATION IN THE NETHERLANDS

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of influenza on ho spitalization in the Netherlands. Two methods were applied to estimate this effect: (a) regression analysis and (b) comparison of hospitaliz ation in epidemic years with non-epidemic years. Hospital discharge ra tes in 1984 - 93 have been considered. The study shows that, during th e period studied, on average, almost 2700 people were hospitalized for influenza per annum, and that influenza was diagnosed as the main cau se for hospitalization in only a fraction of these hospitalizations (3 26: 12%). From an economic perspective, these results imply that the c ost-effectiveness of vaccination against influenza may be severely und erestimated when looking only at changes achieved in the number of hos pitalizations attributed to influenza.