Estimated mortality due to seasonal influenza in southeast of Iran, 2006/2007 to 2011/2012 influenza seasons

BACKGROUND: Global estimates showed an estimate of up to 650,000 seasonal influenza‐associated respiratory deaths annually. However, the mortality rate of seasonal influenza is unknown for most countries in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, including Iran. We aimed to estimate the excess mortality attributable to seasonal influenza in Kerman province, southeast Iran for the influenza seasons 2006/2007–2011/2012. METHODS: We applied a Serfling model to the weekly total pneumonia and influenza (PI) mortality rate during winter to define the epidemic periods and to the weekly age‐specific PI, respiratory, circulatory, and all‐cause deaths during non‐epidemic periods to estimate baseline mortality. The excess mortality was calculated as the difference between observed and predicted mortality. Country estimates were obtained by multiplying the estimated annual excess death rates by the populations of Iran. RESULTS: We estimated an annual average excess of 40 PI, 100 respiratory, 94 circulatory, and 306 all‐cause deaths attributable to seasonal influenza in Kerman; corresponding to annual rates of 1.4 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1–1.8) PI, 3.6 (95% CI 2.6–4.8) respiratory, 3.4 (95% CI 2.1–5.2) circulatory, and 11.0 (95% CI 7.3–15.6) all‐cause deaths per 100,000 population. Adults ≥75 years accounted for 56% and 53% of all excess respiratory and circulatory deaths, respectively. At country level, we would expect an annual of 1119 PI to 8792 all‐cause deaths attributable to seasonal influenza. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings help to define the mortality burden of seasonal influenza, most of which affects adults aged ≥75 years. This study supports influenza prevention and vaccination programs in older adults.