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Trends in hospitalizations associated with gastroenteritis among adults in the United States, 1979–1995

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 1999

A. W. MOUNTS
Affiliation:
Epidemic Intelligence Service, Epidemiology, Program Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Public Health Service, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA 30333 Viral Gastroenteritis Section, Respiratory and Enteric Viruses Branch, Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases (DVRD), CDC, Atlanta, GA 30333
R. C. HOLMAN
Affiliation:
Office of the Director, DVRD, CDC, Atlanta, GA 30333
M. J. CLARKE
Affiliation:
Office of the Director, DVRD, CDC, Atlanta, GA 30333
J. S. BRESEE
Affiliation:
Viral Gastroenteritis Section, Respiratory and Enteric Viruses Branch, Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases (DVRD), CDC, Atlanta, GA 30333
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Abstract

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Gastroenteritis (GE) is among the most common illnesses of humans but the burden of disease, its epidemiology, and the distribution of pathogens in adults have not been fully examined. This information is needed to plan prevention strategies particularly for high-risk groups. This study is a retrospective analysis of data from the National Hospital Discharge Survey for the years 1979 through 1995 which describes the disease burden and epidemiology of hospitalizations associated with GE among adults in the United States. Diarrhoea was listed as a diagnosis on an average of 452000 hospital discharges per year representing 1·5% of all hospitalizations among adults. The annual number of GE hospitalizations has decreased by 20% from approximately 500000 in 1979 to 400000 in 1995. The aetiology of 78% of cases coded as GE was undetermined. Until the aetiology of disease can be better established, specific strategies for prevention cannot be developed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1999 Cambridge University Press