Introduction Influenza is an acute viral infection with significant morbidity and mortality. It occurs annually each winter, which is called seasonal influenza, and is preventable through safe vaccine. Aim The aim of this work is to know the epidemiological pattern of patients with seasonal influenza in Iraqi sentinel sites. Methods A cross‐sectional study was carried out on records of patients who attended four sentinel sites and registered to have influenza‐like illness (ILI) or severe acute respiratory infection (SARI), and laboratory investigated. Results The total number of cases was 1124; 36.2% of them aged 19–39 years; 53.9% were female; 74.9% lived in urban areas; 64.3% diagnosed as ILI; and 35.7% as SARI; 15.9% had diabetes, 12.7% had heart disease, 4.8% had asthma, 3% had a chronic lung disease, and 2% had hematological disease; 94.6% did not get influenza vaccine. About COVID‐19 vaccine, 69.4% were not vaccinated, 3.5% got only one dose, and 27.1% completed two doses. Only the SARI cases needed admission; among them, 95.7% were cured. 6.5% were diagnosed with influenza‐A virus, 26.1% had COVID‐19, and 67.5% were negative. Among those with influenza, 97.3% had H3N2 subtype and 2.7% had H1N1 pdm09. Conclusions The percentage of influenza virus in Iraq is relatively small. The age, classification of case (ILI or SARI), having diabetes, heart disease, or immunological disease, and taking COVID‐19 vaccine have a significant association with influenza. Recommendations It is needed for similar sentinel sites in other health directorates and for rising health education about seasonal influenza and its vaccine.

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Introduction: Influenza is an acute viral infection with significant morbidity and mortality. Its occur annually each winter is called seasonal influenza and is preventable through safe vaccine. Aim: To know the epidemiological pattern of patients with seasonal influenza in Iraqi sentinel sites. Methods: A cross- sectional study carried out on records of patients who attended four sentinel sites and registered to have influenza-like illness (ILI) or severe acute respiratory infection (SARI), and laboratory investigated. Results: The total number of cases was 1124, 36.2% of them aged 19-39 years; 53.9% were female; 74.9% lived in urban areas; 64.3% diagnosed as ILI and 35.7% as SARI. 15.9% had diabetes, 12.7% had heart disease, 4.8% had asthma, 3% had a chronic lung disease, and 2% had hematological disease. 94.6% did not get influenza vaccine. About COVID-19 vaccine, 69.4% did not vaccinated, 3.5% get only 1 dose, and 27.1% completed 2 doses. Only the SARI cases needed admission, among them 95.7% were cured. 6.5% were diagnosed as influenza- A virus, 26.1% had COVID-19, and 67.5% were negative. Among those with influenza, 97.3% had H3N2 subtype, and 2.7% had H1N1 pdm09. Conclusions: The percentage of influenza virus in Iraq is relatively small. The age, classification of case (ILI or SARI), having diabetes, heart disease, or immunological disease, and taking COVID-19 vaccine have a significant association with influenza. Recommendations: It’s needed for similar sentinel sites in other health directorates and for rising health education about seasonal influenza and its vaccine.

Introduction: Ischemic heart diseases (IHD) are prevalent worldwide and they are considered a rapidly increasing common reason for death. Vitamin D3 plays a role in cardiovascular health and its deficiency is also prevalent. Objectives: To measure the prevalence of vitamin D3 deficiency among Iraqi patients with IHD and to explore any potential relation of this deficiency with other variables. Patients and Methods: Vitamin D3 level was determined among fifty patients with IHD who attended the Iraqi Center for Heart Diseases in Baghdad, to evaluate its role in this group of patients through a cross-sectional study. Results:The mean age of all participants was 55.2 ± 8.9 years, while for those with vitamin D3 deficiency was 57.55 ± 7 years. 66% of the participants were males, 82% were living in urban areas, 58% were smoking, 76% had a family history of IHD, 52% and 62% of them were hypertensive and diabetic sequentially, 58% had a high total cholesterol, 22% had a low HDL, 38% had a high LDL, and 42% had a high TG level. The vitamin D3 mean value for the ischemic participants was 21.8 ng/dl. Among those patients, 14% had sufficient vitamin D3 levels, 24% had insufficient levels, and 62% had a deficiency. Conclusion: The deficiency of vitamin D3 exists in 62% of Iraqi ischemic patients. Vitamin D3 deficiency is associated with an increased prevalence of IHD.