ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The FluSTAR Surveillance System covers most of the United States, providing local and national information on influenza and influenza-like illness that is updated twice weekly. METHODS: Descriptive statistical analyses were performed to explore demographic characteristics, symptoms, vaccination status, and treatment of patients tested for influenza, using a rapid test kit, in the FluSTAR program during the 2005 to 2006 influenza season (October 1, 2005-April 11, 2006). RESULTS: Of 17,247 patients tested, the most common age groups were 35 to 49 (20%) or 19 to 34 years (18%). Overall, 22% of tests were positive. Patients testing positive were more likely to report influenza-associated symptoms such as cough and fever than those testing negative. Most patients testing positive were prescribed antiviral agents. CONCLUSIONS: Surveillance systems such as FluSTAR can provide timely data on the circulation of influenza and influenza-like illness. This information could assist with accurate diagnosis and aid treatment decisions.
Subject(s)
Databases as Topic , Influenza, Human/epidemiology , Population Surveillance/methods , Adolescent , Adult , Age Factors , Aged , Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use , Child , Child, Preschool , Cough/epidemiology , Drug Industry , Female , Fever/epidemiology , Humans , Infant , Influenza Vaccines/administration & dosage , Male , Medical Records , Middle Aged , Reagent Kits, Diagnostic , Retrospective Studies , United States/epidemiology , VaccinationABSTRACT
Prior studies have investigated the association between generic health-related quality of life and medication adherence. The objective of this study was to assess the association between medication adherence and health-related quality of life using both a disease-specific and generic metric in a community setting. Overall, the authors' study findings show no association between adherence and health-related quality of life, supporting the results by Cote and colleagues that factors other than medication adherence are important in explaining health-related quality of life. Furthermore, adherence was not significantly associated with asthma severity, although the strong association between asthma control and health-related quality of life, and asthma control and adherence indicates that asthma control is an important vital sign.
