Skip to main content

Displaying results 1 - 8 of 13
  • Traveling Epidemic Waves in Biosurveillance Data: Identifying Early Hotspots of Respiratory Illness

    Content Type: Abstract

    We have previously shown that timeliness of detection is influenced both by the data source (e.g., ambulatory vs. emergency department) and demographic characteristics of patient populations (e.g., age). Because epidemic waves are thought to… read more
    … large cities, patient distance from an urban center also may affect disease susceptibility and hence timing of visits. Here, we describe spatial models of local … of Respiratory Illness John S. Brownstein, Ph.D., Ben Y. Reis, PhD, Kenneth D. Mandl, M.D. Children’s Hospital …
  • The Value of Patient Reports in Syndrome Assignment

    Content Type: Abstract

    Of critical importance to the success of syndromic surveillance systems is the ability to collect data in a timely manner and thus ensure rapid detection of disease outbreaks. Most emergency department-based syndromic surveillance systems use… read more
    … pertaining to the child’s current illness. After the visit, the sub- ject’s medical record was abstracted and … population. Pediatr Emerg Care 2004;20:355-60. [2] Tsui FC, Wagner MM, Dato V, Chang CC. Value of ICD-9 coded chief … Adolesc Med. 1995;149:553-558. Self-report tool Chief com- plaint Syndrome cate- gory Sens (%) Spec (%) Sens (%) …
  • Characterizing Socioeconomic Disparities in the Burden of Influenza and RSV Using Surveillance Data

    Content Type: Abstract

    To measure the impact, within administrative geographic areas, of household income on rates of visits due influenza and RSV among children using real-time syndromic surveillance.
    … geographic areas, of household income on rates of visits due influenza and RSV among children using real-time … geo- graphic areas, of household income on rates of visits due influenza and RSV among children using real- time … tion chief complaint data from emergency department visits at Miami Children’s Hospital in Miami, FL. We …
  • Anonymization of Spatial Data by Gaussian Skew: Is Re-Identification Possible?

    Content Type: Abstract

    To evaluate the robustness of a spatial anonymization algorithm for syndromic surveillance data against a triangulation vulnerability attack. `BACKGROUND We have published an anonymization algorithm that takes precise point locations for patients… read more
    … data requests. Obfuscative and cryptographic algorithms may be susceptible to weakening when it is possible for an … they are requested, triangulation of original addresses may be possible or the anonymity afforded by the algorithm may be reduced. Document …
  • Improving Detection Timeliness by Modeling and Correcting for Data Availability Delays

    Content Type: Abstract

    The performance of even the most advanced syndromic surveillance systems can be undermined if the monitored data is delayed before it arrives into the system.  In such cases, an outbreak may be detected only after it is too late for appropriate… read more
    … it arrives into the system.  In such cases, an outbreak may be detected only after it is too late for appropriate … Modeling and Correcting for Data Availability Delays Ben Y. Reis, Ph.D., Kenneth M. Mandl, M.D. M.P.H. Children’s … 2005. These models predict the percentage of total visits from a given date that will be available to the …
  • Accurate Detection of Arbitrarily-Shaped Spatial Disease Clusters

    Content Type: Abstract

    Methods for locating spatial clusters of diseases are typically variations of the circular scan statistic method. They restrict the number of potential clusters by considering all circular, rectangular, or elliptical regions, and then apply a… read more
    … of each potential cluster. Because disease outbreaks may have variable shapes, there has been recent interest in … of each potential cluster. Because disease outbreaks may have variable shapes, there has been recent interest in … REFERENCES l scan statistic, Comm and Methods. 1997; 26(6):1481-1496. [2] Neill D, Moore A and Sabhnani M, D …
  • Use of Surveillance Data to Measure the Impact of Viral Infections among Young Children

    Content Type: Abstract

    Respiratory viruses cause substantial morbidity and costly resource utilization among young children, especially during the winter months. Accurate estimates of the impact of these viruses are important in guiding prevention efforts… read more
    … RSV infections was 6.8 (95%CI: 5.6, 8.3) and 29.6 (95%CI: 26.6, 33.0) per 1000 children, respectively. … 2-4 years of age, the rates were 1.1 (95%CI: 0.47, 2.6) and 2.5 (95%CI: 1.4, 4.2) per 1000 children, … higher ED and outpatient resource utilization as com- pared with influenza, especially among children <2 …
  • Privacy Protection versus Cluster Detection in Spatial Epidemiology

    Content Type: Abstract

    With the widespread deployment of near real time population health monitoring, there is increasing focus on spatial cluster detection for identifying disease outbreaks. These spatial epidemiologic methods rely on knowledge of patient location to… read more
    … tions, significant clusters contained fewer additional ED visit points (i.e., points that were not part of the … in small circle) and few additional points from the ED visits (red dots outside small circle). However, when the … with points at zip code centroids (right), many more ED visits were included in the detected cluster. CONCLUSIONS …