Clinical burden of multi-cause and pneumococcal pneumonia, meningitis, and septicemia in Hungary. Results of a retrospective study (2006–2011)

Abstract

Introduction: Assessment of the impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines on the burden of pneumonia, meningitis, and septicemia in Hungary is limited. Aim: The aim of this retrospective study was to quantify rates of hospitalized multi-cause and pneumococcal pneumonia, meningitis, and septicemia in all age groups in Hungary between 2006 and 2011. Method: Aggregate data were obtained from the Hungarian National Healthcare Fund using pre-specified ICD-10 codes. Comparisons included average rates pre-vaccine (2006–2007) versus post-vaccine (2010–2011) using a χ 2 test. Results: Hospitalization rates among children aged 0–4 years significantly declined for multi-cause pneumonia and meningitis, but increased for septicemia. There were significant increases in multi-cause pneumonia and septicemia in other age groups. In-hospital mortality rates increased with age. Limited use of pneumococcal-specific codes led to inconclusive findings for pneumococcal diseases. Conclusions: Declines in multi-cause pneumonia and meningitis in children aged 0–4 years suggest direct effects of pneumococcal conjugate vaccination on hospitalization rates. Orv. Hetil., 2014, 155(36), 1426–1436.