In a new report, the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council says the number of influenza hospitalizations in Pennsylvania is higher by 62 % in 2018 over the year before. The numbers are fairly compatible with the flu season, as they are measured by fiscal year, meaning from July 1st to June 30th. There were 5,328 flu admissions to the state’s hospitals in 2017, compared to 8,647 in 2018.
Indiana County’s flu admission rate was significantly lower than the state average. The statewide county average for flu admissions was 67.5 per 100,000 residents. Indiana County’s rate was 48.3, with only 41 admissions overall.
Our neighboring counties had more serious struggles with the flu. Clearfield County had 116 admissions, a rate of 145.6. Jefferson County had a rate of 102.7, with 45 admissions; Westmoreland County’s rate was 74.6, with 263 admissions. Armstrong and Cambria counties were very close to the state rate, Armstrong at 68.6, Cambria at 65.4.
Most influenza hospitalizations, 66 percent of them, were for patients aged 65 and older. Seven percent were for children under age 18.
On average, influenza patients aged 65 and older stayed in the hospital 4.6 days, compared to 3.6 days for other flu sufferers. The older patients had an in-hospital mortality rate of 1.7%, and 12.6% were readmitted to the hospital within 30 days.
