Healthcare systems seem may be ill-equipped to handle high co-circulation of influenza and SARS-CoV-2 in the coming year UMich medrxivpreprint Healthcare CoCirculation Influenza SARSCoV2 COVID19 Coronavirus
By Neha MathurSep 20 2022Reviewed by Aimee Molineux In a recent study posted to the medRxiv* pre-print server, researchers conducted a community-based prospective cohort study in Managua, Nicaragua, before the beginning of the winter season when influenza A cases surge in the Northern Hemisphere.
About the study In the present study, researchers examined influenza, SARS-CoV-2 infections, and coinfections between January 1 and July 20, 2022, in the participants of the Household Influenza Cohort Study held in Nicaragua. They collected respiratory samples from study participants who visited the clinic upon developing fever, conjunctivitis, rash, or loss of taste or smell.
Study findings Related StoriesThe study population comprised 2117 participants aged 0-89 years, of which 62.5% were females. Gender did not affect the incidence rates of both diseases. The researchers noted 433 influenza and 296 SARS-CoV-2 infections, with incidence rates of 37.6 and 26 per 100 person-years, 95% confidence interval , respectively. Notably, the influenza incidence rates peaked in children aged five years or less and then decreased steadily.
In two to 14-year-olds, the influenza attack rate was 26.8%, whereas it was 15.3% for SARS-CoV-2. Compared to prior influenza incidence rates, the 2022 incidence rate for influenza A was substantially higher at 28.6 per 100 person-years. Furthermore, the researchers observed nearly the expected number of symptomatic influenza and SARS-CoV-2 coinfections.