Table 1

Demographic characteristics of 1520 UK patients hospitalised with pandemic H1N1 infection during the 2009–2010 pandemic compared with source population and pre-pandemic hospital data on acute respiratory infection admissions

n (%)UK population comparison, %Pre-pandemic hospital data, acute respiratory infections,* %
Sex
 Men720 (47.4)48.750.4
 Women800 (52.6)51.349.6
Age (years)
 <1121 (8.0)1.314.7
 1–4138 (9.1)4.812.6
 5–15221 (14.5)12.64.8
 16–24245 (16.1)12.12.5
 25–34242 (15.9)12.93.3
 35–44195 (12.8)14.64.6
 45–54168 (11.0)13.55.4
 55–64115 (7.6)11.87.9
 65–7455 (3.6)8.511.0
 >7520 (1.3)7.833.2
Ethnicity§
 White630 (41.5)92.183.3
 Mixed11 (0.7)1.21.9
 Asian/Asian British249 (16.4)4.08.7
 Black/black British129 (8.5)2.03.4
 Chinese and other121 (8.0)0.82.7
  • * Hospital Episodes Statistics data: primary discharge codes relating to possible influenza admissions (J06, J10, J11, J13-22) were considered for the pre-pandemic influenza active period November 2008–March 2009.

  • Census 2001 data for comparison of sex (KS01 tables) were obtained from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) (http://www.statistics.gov.uk).

  • Demographic data on age distribution based on 2009 mid-year population estimates (ONS).

  • § Ethnicity data from ONS (Census 2001 data, 2001 data from the General Register Office for Scotland and Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency).

  • Missing data for 380 (25%).