Consultations for Influenza-Like Illness in Primary Care in The Netherlands: A Regression Approach

Objectives

To estimate the general practitioner (GP) consultation rate attributable to influenza in The Netherlands.

Methods

Regression analysis was performed on the weekly numbers of influenza-like illness (ILI) GP consultations and laboratory reports for influenza virus types A and B and 8 other pathogens over the period 2003–2014 (11 influenza seasons; week 40–20 of the following year).

Results

In an average influenza season, 27% and 11% of ILI GP consultations were attributed to infection by influenza virus types A and B, respectively. Influenza is therefore responsible for approximately 107 000 GP consultations (651/100 000) each year in The Netherlands. GP consultation rates associated with influenza infection were highest in children under 5 years of age, at 667 of 100 000 for influenza A and 258 of 100 000 for influenza B. Influenza virus infection was found to be the predominant cause of ILI-related GP visits in all age groups except children under 5, in which respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection was found to be the main contributor.

Conclusions

The burden of influenza in terms of GP consultations is considerable. Overall, influenza is the main contributor to ILI. Although ILI symptoms in children under 5 years of age are most often associated with RSV infection, the majority of visits related to influenza occur among children under 5 years of age.