Influenza-associated mortality for different causes of death during the 2010-2011 through the 2014-2015 influenza seasons in Russia

BackgroundThere is limited information on the volume of influenza-associated mortality in Russia. MethodsUsing previously developed methodology (Goldstein et al., Epidemiology 2012), we regressed the monthly rates of mortality for respiratory causes, circulatory cause, and for certain infectious and parasitic diseases (available from the Russian Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat)) linearly against the monthly proxies for the incidence of influenza A/H3N2, A/H1N1 and B (obtained using data from the Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza (RII) on levels of ILI/ARI consultations and the percent of respiratory specimens testing positive for influenza A/H3N2, A/H1N1 and B), adjusting for the baseline rates of mortality not associated with influenza circulation and temporal trends. ResultsFor the 2010/11 through the 2014/15 seasons, influenza circulation was associated with an average annual 3662 (95% CI (2487,4836)) deaths for respiratory causes, 9558 (2280,16836) deaths for circulatory causes, and 343 (63,624) deaths for certain infectious and parasitic diseases, with influenza B making a substantial contribution to the last two categories of deaths. The largest numbers of both respiratory and circulatory deaths (5220 (3407,7033) and 16380 (3907,28853) correspondingly) were estimated during the 2014/15 season. ConclusionsInfluenza circulation is associated with a substantial mortality burden in Russia, particularly for circulatory deaths. Those results support the potential utility of influenza vaccination (with the role played by influenza B pointing to the benefit of quadrivalent influenza vaccines), as well as of administration of antiviral drugs for older individuals and individuals with certain underlying health conditions during periods of active influenza circulation.