The burden of seasonal influenza in Italy: A systematic review of influenza-related complications, hospitalizations, and mortality

Reliable country-specific data on influenza burden play a crucial role in informing prevention and control measures. Our purpose was to provide a comprehensive summary of the available evidence on the burden of seasonal influenza in Italy. We performed a systematic literature review of articles published until July 31, 2020. PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were searched using terms related to burden, influenza, and Italian population. We included studies investigating seasonal influenza-related complications, hospitalizations, and/or mortality. Sixteen studies were included: eight (50%) analyzed influenza-related complications, eight (50%) hospitalizations, and seven (43.8%) influenza-related deaths. Only three studies (19.7%) concerned pediatric age. The synthesis of results showed that patients with chronic conditions have an increased risk for complications up to almost three times as compared with healthy people. Hospitalizations due to influenza can occur in as much as 5% of infected people depending on the study setting. Excess deaths rates were over sixfold higher in the elderly as compared with the rest of population. Although there are still gaps in existing data, there is evidence of the significant burden that influenza places each year especially on high-risk groups. These data should be used to inform public health decision-making.

Automated summary

This study provides a comprehensive summary of the burden of seasonal influenza in Italy, highlighting the increased risk of complications for patients with chronic conditions, hospitalization rates up to 5% for infected individuals, and over sixfold higher excess death rates in the elderly compared to the rest of the population. Although there are still gaps in existing data, this evidence emphasizes the significant burden that influenza places on high-risk groups each year.