The percentage of emergency department (ED) visits that included influenza testing increased from 2.5% in 2013 to 10.9% in 2022, according to a new data brief from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ED visits for children ages 0–5 years had the highest percentage of tests ordered both in 2013 data (8.6%) and 2022 data (23.1%). Among ED visits by adults, the percentage with an influenza test increased from 1.9% to 9.1% for patients ages 18–44, from 1.3% to 8.7% for ages 45–64, and from 1.5% to 9.6% for age 65 and older. The differences are significant for each age group.
And why is that? Fever and cough were the top 2 cues that prompted providers to order flu tests. A test was ordered or provided at 16.8% of ED visits with a first-listed reason of fever in 2013; increasing to 38.5% of visits in 2022. Similarly, the percentage of ED visits with a first-listed reason of cough with a flu test ordered or provided increased from 13.3% in 2013 to 35.8% in 2022.