Table 2. Health characteristics of individuals included in the study (an individual may have been involved in 1, 2, or 3 seasons).
2012–2013, n (%)2013–2014, n (%)2014–2015, n (%)
N 175614241726
Colds/flu-like diseases frequency (MD = 69)
 Rare1291 (74.5) 1011 (72.1) 1285 (75.5)
 Often421 (24.3) 363 (25.9) 393 (23.1)
 Don’t know20 (1.2) 28 (2.0)25 (1.4)
Flu vaccination for the current season (MD = 0)
 No1360 (77.5)1062 (74.5)1278 (74.0)
 Yes394 (22.4)361 (25.4)445 (25.8)
 Don’t know2 (0.1)1 (0.1)3 (0.2)
Smoking status (MD = 0)
 Never smoked1019 (58.0)819 (57.5)997 (57.8)
 Used to smoke480 (27.4)408 (28.7)517 (30.0)
 Still smoking257 (14.6)197 (13.8)212 (12.2)
Comorbidities (MD = 0)
 No comorbidities1430 (81.4)1135 (79.7)1363 (79.0)
 ≥1 comorbidity326 (18.6)289 (20.3)363 (21.0)
 Treated asthma131 (7.5)118 (8.3)144 (8.3)
 Treated diabetes48 (2.7)47 (3.3)48 (2.8)
 Treated heart condition119 (6.8)90 (6.3)142 (8.2)
 Treated kidney condition7 (0.4)10 (0.7)9 (0.5)
 Treated immunodepression47 (2.7)40 (2.8)49 (2.8)
 Treated pulmonary condition50 (2.8)51 (3.6)58 (3.4)
 ≥1 respiratory allergy (MD = 0)677 (38.6)566 (39.7)659 (38.2)
Pregnancy (MD = 35)
 Pregnant7 (0.4)8 (0.6)24 (1.4)
 Not pregnant544 (31.3) 424 (29.9) 512 (29.8)
 Not applicable (men or women <15 or >50 years old)1188 (68.3) 984 (69.5) 1180 (68.8)
BMI, kg/m2 (MD = 73)
 <18.5200 (11.6) 156 (11.1) 190 (11.2)
 18.5–291348 (78.1) 1081 (76.8) 1296 (76.2)
 30–39158 (9.2) 152 (10.8) 197 (11.5)
 ≥4019 (1.1)19 (1.3)18 (1.1)
At risk of influenza complications (MD = 85)
 No1215 (70.8) 954 (67.8) 1114 (65.6)
 Yes501 (29.2) 453 (32.2) 584 (34.4)
  • BMI = body mass index. MD = missing data.