Performance of the case definition of suspected influenza before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

• Published in: Revista clinica espanola Vol. 221; no. 10; pp. 582 - 586
• Main Authors: Murillo-Zamora, E, Hernández-Suárez, C M
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: 01.12.2021
• ISSN: 2254-8874
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rceng.2020.09.003

OBJECTIVEThis study aimed to evaluate the performance, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, of the case definition of suspected influenza used in community surveillance in Mexico. METHODSA cross-sectional analysis of a cohort study was performed and cases that met the suspected case criteria (n = 20,511) and that had laboratory-conclusive evidence (quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction) to confirm or discard influenza virus infection were analysed. RESULTSA high sensitivity and modest specificity were documented, which later decreased during the COVID-19 outbreak, as well as its diagnostic accuracy. However, no significant differences were observed in the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve among the analysed periods. CONCLUSIONSThe evaluated case definition remains to be a cost-effective alternative for identifying patients who may benefit from influenza-specific antiviral drugs, even during the global COVID-19 outbreak.