Kim HS, et al. – The time trends of the prevalence and predictors of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) were investigated in the United States from 2005 to 2014 using nationally representative data. The monthly prevalence of AGE was 8.31% in the United States from 2005 to 2014. It had been significantly decreasing over time.

• The authors collected data from the National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES) 2005 to 2014, a nationally representative health survey.
• They defined AGE by a medical question (Do you have a stomach or intestinal illness with vomiting or diarrhea that started during last 30 d ).
• They estimated prevalence of AGE in the total population as well as by selected demographic variables.
• They also examined predictors of AGE and time trends of prevalence over survey periods.

• Corresponding to 22.8 million people, the overall monthly prevalence of AGE was 8.31% (95% confidence interval, 7.81-8.81).
• AGE was correlated with a younger age group, the highest in ages 0 to 9 years old, females, winter to the early spring season, the US born, divorced/separated/widowed individuals, current smokers, heavy alcohol users, and low household income.
• The prevalence of AGE significantly decreased over the study periods in the trends analyses: 10.23% in 2005 to 2006, 9.89% in 2007 to 2008, 7.58% in 2009 to 2010, 6.44% in 2011 to 2012, and 7.47% in 2013 to 2014 (trend P<0.001).