CDC Report: Increase in Influenza Testing in U.S. Emergency Departments 2013-2022

The CDC recently released a report entitled, “Emergency Department Visits With an Influenza Test Ordered or Provided: United States, 2013-2022.”

The data, according to the report, is from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey.

Key highlights include:

• The percentage of annual emergency department (ED) visits with an influenza test ordered or provided increased from 2.5% in 2013 to 10.9% in 2022.
• ED visits by children ages 0–5 years had the highest percentage of influenza tests ordered or provided in 2013 (8.6%) and 2022 (23.1%).
• Fever and cough were the most frequent first-listed reasons for ED visits with an influenza test ordered or provided in both 2013 and 2022.
• Percentages of ED visits with an influenza test ordered or provided increased for each geographic region of the United States (Northeast, Midwest, South, and West) between 2013 and 2022.