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Real-time monitoring of viral gastroenteritis: August 2024

by | Sep 11, 2024 | Research

Truveta Research uses EHR data to show real-time trends in norovirus and rotavirus.
  • The overall trends of hospitalizations associated with viral gastroenteritis – norovirus and rotavirus – show a steady decrease over the last few months, leading to a rate of 0.04% in August 2024 in the overall population.
  • However, we see first indicators that the next season is already beginning for the population aged 0-4 years old with an increase in the hospitalization rate of +196.7% from July.
  • In the overall and adult over age 65 population, norovirus causes 4 to 5 times higher hospitalization rates than rotavirus. However, in the infant and child population (age 0-4), both norovirus and rotavirus have similar hospitalization rates.
Few sources regularly monitor hospitalizations associated with the two most common gastrointestinal viruses: norovirus and rotavirus. Truveta Research has created a quarterly viral gastroenteritis monitoring report to supplement the surveillance data provided by the CDC by describing monthly trends in the rate of hospitalizations overall and for norovirus and rotavirus. This information can inform decisions about public health, clinical care, and public policy.

Because Truveta Data provides the most complete, timely, and clean de-identified EHR data, including full patient medical records, notes, and images, linked with claims, SDOH, and mortality data for more than 100 million patients across the US, we can show the latest trends in these viral gastroenteritis-associated hospitalizations, including valuable insight into two high-risk populations: infants and children (age 0-4 years old) and older adults (age 65 and over).

This blog provides a snapshot of the key findings with data through August 2024 in the report specific to the overall population across both norovirus and rotavirus, as well as for two high-risk populations: infants and children (age 0-4 years old) and older adults (age 65 and older). For the full analysis – inclusive of demographics, comorbidities, and overall trends in virus-associated hospitalizations across all age groups for each virus, see the complete report on MedRxiv or explore the data directly within Truveta Studio.

Key findings: Trends in viral gastroenteritis-associated hospitalizations and test positivity

Using a subset of Truveta Data, we identified 8,153 hospitalizations of 7,939 unique patients who tested positive for a monitored virus between October 01, 2019 and August 31, 2024. Additionally, we included 354,235 lab results across 172,810 unique patients of which 15,741 were positive between October 01, 2019 and August 31, 2024.
Overall population trends
The overall trends of hospitalizations associated with viral gastroenteritis – norovirus and rotavirus – show a steady decrease over the last few months in the overall population.

Hospitalizations associated with norovirus and rotavirus accounted for 0.04% of all hospitalizations in August 2024 (-18.2% from July 2024). Norovirus-related hospitalizations decreased less than rotavirus-related hospitalizations (-16.2% vs -31.7%).

Truveta Research uses EHR data to show real-time trends in norovirus and rotavirus.
The combined test positivity rate of these viruses was 3.6% in August 2024. The norovirus test positivity rate decreased by 6.4%, while the rotavirus test positivity rate decreased significantly by 39.5%.
Truveta Research uses EHR data to show real-time trends in norovirus and rotavirus.
Infants and children (age 0-4)
While hospitalization trends for the overall population have decreased, we see first indicators that the next season is already beginning for the population aged 0-4 years old.

For this younger population, the hospitalizations associated with these two viruses accounted for 0.08% of all hospitalizations in August (+196.7% from July 2024).  Both norovirus- and rotavirus-related hospitalizations increased (+256.0% and +137.3% respectively).

Truveta Research uses EHR data to show real-time trends in norovirus and rotavirus.
Norovirus test positivity rate increased significantly by 164.8%, while rotavirus test positivity rate increased by 8.9% for this age group.
Truveta Research uses EHR data to show real-time trends in norovirus and rotavirus.
Older adults (age 65 and over)
In the population over 65 years of age, hospitalizations associated with these viruses accounted for 0.04% of all hospitalizations in August 2024 (-26.0% from July 2024). Norovirus-related hospitalizations decreased (-24.8%), as did rotavirus-related hospitalizations (-39.1%).
Truveta Research uses EHR data to show real-time trends in norovirus and rotavirus.
The norovirus test positivity rate decreased by 20.1%, while the rotavirus test positivity rate decreased by 1.2%.
Truveta Research uses EHR data to show real-time trends in norovirus and rotavirus.

Discussion

It is important for public health experts and clinical providers to understand the trends in these infections to inform decisions about public health, clinical care, and public policy. Connecting population-level trends with granular clinical information available in Truveta Studio can be very useful to understand which populations are most impacted and may require additional support.

We will continue to monitor viral gastroenteritis-associated hospitalizations overall and for higher risk populations.

Again, see the complete report on MedRxiv or explore the data directly within Truveta Studio.