The Economic Burden of Influenza-Like Illness among Children, Chronic Disease Patients, and the Elderly in China: A National Cross-Sectional Survey

Xiaozhen Lai, Hongguo Rong, Xiaochen Ma, Zhiyuan Hou, Shunping Li, Rize Jing, Haijun Zhang, Yun Lyu, Jiahao Wang, Huangyufei Feng, Zhibin Peng, Luzhao Feng and Hai Fang
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Xiaozhen Lai: School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
Hongguo Rong: China Center for Health Development Studies, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
Xiaochen Ma: China Center for Health Development Studies, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
Zhiyuan Hou: School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
Shunping Li: School of Health Care Management, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
Rize Jing: School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
Haijun Zhang: School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
Yun Lyu: School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
Jiahao Wang: School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
Huangyufei Feng: School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
Zhibin Peng: Division of Infectious Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
Luzhao Feng: School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China
Hai Fang: China Center for Health Development Studies, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 12, 1-16

Abstract: Background: The disease burden of seasonal influenza is substantial in China, while there is still a lack of nationwide economic burden estimates. This study aims to examine influenza-like illness (ILI) prevalence, healthcare-seeking behaviors, economic impact of ILI, and its influencing factors among three priority groups during the 2018–19 influenza season. Methods: From August to October 2019, 6668 children’s caregivers, 1735 chronic disease patients, and 3849 elderly people were recruited from 10 provinces in China to participate in an on-site survey. The economic burden of ILI consisted of direct (medical or non-medical) and indirect burdens, and a two-part model was adopted to predict the influencing factors of total economic burden. Results: There were 45.73% children, 16.77% chronic disease patients, and 12.70% elderly people reporting ILI, and most participants chose outpatient service or over-the-counter (OTC) medication after ILI. The average economic burden was CNY 1647 (USD 237.2) for children, CNY 951 (USD 136.9) for chronic disease patients, and CNY 1796 (USD 258.6) for the elderly. Two-part regression showed that age, gender, whether the only child in the family, region, and household income were important predictors of ILI economic burden among children, while age, region, place of residence, basic health insurance, and household income were significant predictors of ILI economic burden among chronic disease patients and the elderly. Conclusions: A large economic burden of ILI was highlighted, especially among the elderly with less income and larger medical burdens, as well as children, with higher prevalence and higher self-payment ratio. It is important to adopt targeted interventions for high-risk groups, and this study can help national-level decision-making on the introduction of influenza vaccination as a public health project.

Keywords: economic burden; influenza-like illness; healthcare-seeking behaviors; China (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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