All-cause gastroenteritis and rotavirus-coded hospitalizations among US children, 2000-2009

Abstract

Background: Rotavirus vaccine was recommended for US infants in 2006. We estimated baseline prevaccine burden and monitored postvaccine trends in gastroenteritis-coded and rotavirus-coded hospitalizations among US children.

Methods: We analyzed data from the State Inpatient Databases (SID) for 29-44 US states over a 10-year period (2000-2009) to calculate gastroenteritis and rotavirus-coded hospitalization rates by age group, sex, and region, among children <5 years of age. By extrapolating observed pre- and postvaccine gastroenteritis hospitalization rates to the US population <5 years and based on the 2009 cost of a diarrhea hospitalization, we estimated national reductions in diarrhea hospitalizations and associated treatment costs.

Results: The prevaccine (2000-2006) annual average gastroenteritis-coded hospitalization rate among children <5 years of age was 74 per 10,000 (annual range, 71-82 per 10,000), and declined to 51 and 50 per 10,000 in 2008 and 2009, respectively (P < .001). The prevaccine (2000-2006) annual average rotavirus-coded hospitalization rate among children <5 years of age was 15 per 10,000 (annual range, 13-18 per 10,000), and declined to 5 and 6 per 10,000 in 2008 and 2009, respectively (P < .001). The decreases in rotavirus-coded hospitalization rates in 2008 and 2009 compared with rates in prevaccine years were observed among all age groups and US regions. Nationally, during 2008 and 2009 combined, we estimated a reduction of approximately 77,000 diarrhea hospitalizations and approximately $242 million in hospital costs.

Conclusions: Since implementation of the US rotavirus vaccination program, a marked reduction in diarrhea hospitalizations and related hospital charges has occurred among US children.