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Temporal trends in hospitalization for rotavirus gastroenteritis: A nationwide study in Italy, 2005-2012
Antonella Mattei1, Margherita Sbarbati2, Fabiana Fiasca3
1a Medical Statistics; Section of Public Health ; Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences; University of L'Aquila ; L'Aquila , Italy.
Insights
Rotavirus gastroenteritis (RVGE) remains a significant cause of severe acute gastroenteritis (AGE) hospitalizations in Italian children under six. Despite rotavirus vaccination recommendations, RVGE continues to burden pediatric healthcare systems.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) severity is etiologically linked, with Rotavirus (RV) causing most severe cases.
- The World Health Organization recommended RV vaccination in 2009, but European adoption has been limited.
- Rotavirus gastroenteritis (RVGE) represents a substantial global public health concern in pediatric populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate the proportion and hospitalization rates of RVGE among children under six in Italy.
- To analyze trends in RVGE hospitalizations between 2005 and 2012 using national data.
- To assess the ongoing impact of Rotavirus on pediatric hospital admissions in Italy.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 334,982 hospital discharge forms from Italian hospitals (2005-2012).
- Identification of 79,344 hospitalizations associated with Rotavirus (RVGE).
- Calculation of hospitalization rates (HR) for RVGE, considering primary (PD) and secondary (SD) diagnoses.
Main Results:
- An average hospitalization rate of 146/100,000 children for RVGE (PD) and 150/100,000 (SD).
- RVGE hospitalizations in SD surpassed PD from 2008 onwards.
- The highest proportion of RVGE hospitalizations (33.67%) occurred in children aged two years or younger.
Conclusions:
- Rotavirus continues to be a significant cause of pediatric hospitalizations in Italy, despite available vaccination.
- Analysis of national hospital discharge data, including secondary diagnoses, is crucial for understanding RVGE burden.
- The findings underscore the need for continued surveillance and potential reinforcement of rotavirus vaccination strategies in Europe.
Abstract:
AGE severity is linked to etiology, and Rotavirus (RV) accounts for most of severe cases. In 2009 the World Health Organization recommended RV vaccination for all children. Worldwide a number of Countries implemented RV vaccination in their pediatric immunisation programmes, but only a limited number in Europe. This study was designed to estimate the proportion of RVGE among children aged <6 y who were diagnosed with AGE and admitted to hospitals in Italy during the years 2005-2012. A total of 334,982 hospital discharge forms were collected, being 79,344 hospitalizations associated with RV. The average hospitalization rate (HR) was 146/100,000 children for RVGE in primary diagnosis (PD) and 150/100,000 children for RVGE in secondary diagnosis (SD). Since 2008 the RVGE hospitalization figures and rates (HRs) in SD exceed those in PD. The majority of RVGE hospitalizations (33.67%) were reported among children aged ≤ 2 years. Despite some limitations due to the hospital discharge database (HDD) synthetic contents and low potential for clinical interpretation, the analysis of national HDD, including PD and SD, documents that RV still represents a consistent cause of pediatric hospitalizations in Italy.
