[Clinical burden of multi-cause and pneumococcal pneumonia, meningitis, and septicemia in Hungary. Results of a retrospective study (2006-2011)].

INTRODUCTION: Assessment of the impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines on the burden of pneumonia, meningitis, and septicemia in Hungary is limited.

AIM: The aim of this retrospective study was to quantify rates of hospitalized multi-cause and pneumococcal pneumonia, meningitis, and septicemia in all age groups in Hungary between 2006 and 2011.

METHOD: Aggregate data were obtained from the Hungarian National Healthcare Fund using pre-specified ICD-10 codes. Comparisons included average rates pre-vaccine (2006-2007) versus post-vaccine (2010-2011) using a χ2 test.

RESULTS: Hospitalization rates among children aged 0-4 years significantly declined for multi-cause pneumonia and meningitis, but increased for septicemia. There were significant increases in multi-cause pneumonia and septicemia in other age groups. In-hospital mortality rates increased with age. Limited use of pneumococcal-specific codes led to inconclusive findings for pneumococcal diseases.

CONCLUSIONS: Declines in multi-cause pneumonia and meningitis in children aged 0-4 years suggest direct effects of pneumococcal conjugate vaccination on hospitalization rates.