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Temporal trend in paediatric infections in Denmark
M Kamper-Jørgensen1, J Wohlfahrt, J Simonsen
1Department of Epidemiology Research, Statens Serum Institut, Denmark. mka@ssi.dk
Archives of Disease in Childhood
|February 9, 2006
Summary
Hospitalizations for infections in Danish children under six increased by 62% between 1980 and 2001. This rise, particularly in infants, did not strain health services due to shorter hospital stays.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Epidemiology
- Public Health Surveillance
- Infectious Disease Trends
Background:
- Understanding temporal trends in pediatric infections is crucial for public health planning.
- Hospitalization data provides insights into the burden of infectious diseases in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate changes in the incidence of infection-related hospitalizations among children in Denmark over a 22-year period.
- To analyze trends in pediatric infection hospitalizations from 1980 to 2001.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a national cohort of 1,892,711 Danish children aged 0-5 years (1980-2001).
- Data sourced from the Danish Civil Registration System and Danish National Patient Registry.
- Employed log-linear Poisson regression to estimate annual incidence rates.
Main Results:
- Overall incidence of infection hospitalizations rose by 62% in children aged 0-5 years.
- A sevenfold increase in short-term hospitalization incidence was observed in infants (0-1 years).
- Despite increased incidence, health service strain remained constant due to decreased hospitalization duration.
Conclusions:
- Short-term infection hospitalizations significantly increased in young children over two decades.
- The rise in hospitalizations may reflect changes in clinical practice and healthcare utilization rather than increased infection rates.
- Constant health service burden suggests effective management despite changing hospitalization patterns.