FluSTAR, a novel influenza surveillance system: outcomes from the 2005-2006 flu season.

Background: The FluSTAR Surveillance System covers most of the United States, providing local and national information on influenza and influenza-like illness that is updated twice weekly.

Methods: Descriptive statistical analyses were performed to explore demographic characteristics, symptoms, vaccination status, and treatment of patients tested for influenza, using a rapid test kit, in the FluSTAR program during the 2005 to 2006 influenza season (October 1, 2005-April 11, 2006).

Results: Of 17,247 patients tested, the most common age groups were 35 to 49 (20%) or 19 to 34 years (18%).

Adherence, asthma control, generic and disease-specific quality-of-life instruments in asthma.

Prior studies have investigated the association between generic health-related quality of life and medication adherence. The objective of this study was to assess the association between medication adherence and health-related quality of life using both a disease-specific and generic metric in a community setting. Overall, the authors' study findings show no association between adherence and health-related quality of life, supporting the results by Cote and colleagues that factors other than medication adherence are important in explaining health-related quality of life.