The use of influenza testing in hospital emergency department visits has seen a significant rise in the United States, growing steadily from 2013 to 2022, according to a December data brief published by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).

Susan M. Schappert and Dr. Loredana Santo, M.P.H., from the NCHS in Hyattsville, Maryland, conducted a comprehensive analysis of trends in influenza testing during emergency department visits over the decade. Their research utilized data from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey.

Key Findings

The study revealed a marked increase in the percentage of annual emergency department visits involving an influenza test, which climbed from 2.5% in 2013 to 10.9% in 2022. Notably, the highest rates of testing were observed among children aged 0 to 5 years, with figures rising from 8.6% in 2013 to 23.1% in 2022.

Fever and cough were consistently the most frequent first-listed reasons for visits where an influenza test was ordered or provided, both in 2013 and 2022. Additionally, every geographic region in the United States experienced an increase in the proportion of emergency department visits involving influenza testing during the study period.

Evolving Testing Patterns

The researchers also identified shifts in the reasons prompting influenza tests. “Visits with a first-listed reason of nausea, shortness of breath, or psychological symptoms also had relatively high percentages of influenza testing in 2022; the percentages for nausea and shortness of breath were significantly higher than the corresponding percentages in 2013,” the authors noted.

This upward trend highlights an evolving approach to diagnosing and managing influenza in emergency settings, underscoring the importance of vigilant testing to guide appropriate treatment and infection control measures.