Imputation method to reduce undetected severe acute respiratory infection cases during the coronavirus disease outbreak in Brazil

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Main Authors: Silvano Barbosa de Oliveira, Fabiana Ganem, Wildo Navegantes de Araújo, Jordi Casabona, Mauro Niskier Sanchez, Julio Croda
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2020
• Subjects: COVID-19; SARI; Laboratory test; Signs and symptoms; Imputation method; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0528-2020; https://doaj.org/article/bf4d139745ca45d5a932bd4adff80b43

Abstract INTRODUCTION: The coronavirus disease (COVD-19) outbreak has overburdened the surveillance of severe acute respiratory infections (SARIs), including the laboratory network. This study was aimed at correcting the absence of laboratory results of reported SARI deaths. METHODS: The imputation method was applied for SARI deaths without laboratory information using clinico-epidemiological characteristics. RESULTS: Of 84,449 SARI deaths, 51% were confirmed with COVID-19 while 3% with other viral respiratory diseases. After the imputation method, 95% of deaths were reclassified as COVID-19 while 5% as other viral respiratory diseases. CONCLUSIONS: The imputation method was a useful and robust solution (sensitivity and positive predictive value of 98%) for missing values through clinical & epidemiological characteristics.