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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
Insights
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.
Aim:
To study temporal trends in the incidence of hospitalisations due to infection in children in Denmark.
Methods:
A national register based cohort of 1 892 711 Danish children aged 0-5 years were studied from 1980 to 2001. Child and family characteristics were identified in the Danish Civil Registration System; hospitalisations were identified in the Danish National Patient Registry. Annual incidence rates were estimated using log-linear Poisson regression.
Results:
During the studied period, the incidence of hospitalisations from infection increased by 62% in 0-5 year old children. The increase was mainly due to a sevenfold increase in the incidence of infections leading to short term hospitalisation in children aged 0-1 years. Since the increase in incidence was contrasted with a decrease in duration of hospitalisation, no further strain was put on the health services in Denmark.
Conclusion:
During the last two decades, the incidence of short term hospitalisations due to infections increased markedly among the youngest children. However, the strain on the health services remained constant. The observed increase in the incidence of short term hospitalisations among the youngest children may reflect changes in hospitalisation practices and utilisation, rather than an increase in incidence of infections.
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