New Findings from Hanyang University College of Medicine in the Area of Vaccination Reported (Age-Period-Cohort Analysis of Influenza in Koreans: the National Health Insurance Research Database, 2009-2018)

2020 MAY 28 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Vaccine Daily -- Research findings on Public Health - Vaccination are discussed in a new report. According to news reporting originating in Seoul, South Korea, by NewsRx journalists, research stated, “This study aimed to identify the incidence rate of episodes diagnosed with influenza and the effects of age-period-cohort (APC) in Koreans. The 2009-2018 National Health Insurance Research Database was used for analysis.”

Financial supporters for this research include Ministry of Environment, Government-wide R&D Fund project for infectious disease research.

The news reporters obtained a quote from the research from the Hanyang University College of Medicine, “All time-related claims connected relatively short window period in 100 days. The case definition was defined by all codes diagnosed with J09, J10, and J11. Calculation of the incidence rate and APC analysis adjusted income levels by insurance type, metropolitan city was performed to identify the characteristics of episodes diagnosed with influenza. Incidence rate by age and cohort gradually increased since 2014. The incidence rate of males aged 0-4 years was 171.02 and that of females was 173.31 in 2015-2016 season. In males, 29.19 in 1963 cohort and 243.79 in 2013 cohort were confirmed as high incidence rates in 2017-2018 season. In the females, a high incidence was confirmed in 1953-1967 cohort and 1978-1987 cohort, and the incidence was 251.38 in 2013-2017 cohort. APC effects showed a high relative risk in the infants, the pandemic influenza season in 2010 (1/7/2009 to 30/6/2010) and the adults of 1978-1987 cohort. Since 2014, influenza outbreaks have been increasing every year. The start year of free vaccination decreased the incidence in infants and adults over 65 years of age but the incidence increased from the following year. Because influenza can be primarily prevented by vaccination, reinforcement of vaccination in infants may reduce the disease burden in their parents, and also the risk of infection caused by family transmission.”

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: “A new vaccination strategy is needed to reduce the incidence and burden of diseases caused by influenza infection.”

For more information on this research see: Age-Period-Cohort Analysis of Influenza in Koreans: the National Health Insurance Research Database, 2009-2018. Journal of Korean Medical Science, 2020;35(18):e121. Journal of Korean Medical Science can be contacted at: Korean Acad Medical Sciences, 302 75 Dong du Ichon, Dong Yongsan Ku, Seoul 140 031, South Korea.

Our news correspondents report that additional information may be obtained by contacting K.H. Byeon, Dept. of Preventive Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. Additional authors for this research include J. Kim, B.Y. Choi, J.Y. Kim and N. Lee.

The direct object identifier (DOI) for that additional information is: https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2020.35.e121. This DOI is a link to an online electronic document that is either free or for purchase, and can be your direct source for a journal article and its citation.

The publisher of the Journal of Korean Medical Science can be contacted at: Korean Acad Medical Sciences, 302 75 Dong du Ichon, Dong Yongsan Ku, Seoul 140 031, South Korea.

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