Risk factors for community-acquired pneumonia with influenza A/H1N1 in southern Israel

Abstract

In our region CAP with influenza A/H1N1 occurred in younger females of Bedouin Arab origin with less co-morbidity. No difference in mortality was found. We believe that inequalities in socioeconomic conditions could explain our findings.

General Characteristics and Prognostic Factors of Pneumonia Cases DevelopedDuringPandemic(H1N1)Influenza-AVirus InfectioninTurkey

“…However, obesity, pregnancy, and comorbid conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were shown to increase the severity of the disease in pandemic (H 1 N 1 ) influenza-A pneumonia (3,4). In the current study, the average age of the cases was 47.5±18.6 years and 52.1% had co-morbid diseases.…”

“…Unlike seasonal influenza, seen in previous years, thrombocytopenia have been experienced in pandemic (H 1 N 1 ) influenza-A in some studies from Turkey and internationally (3,12,(16)(17)(18)(19). Leukopenia and lymphopenia, which is an indicator of viral infection, is a common finding in pandemic (H 1 N 1 ) influenza-A pneumonia (3,15). Cunha et al (20) have shown that lymphopenia, and thrombocytopenia may play a key role in the diagnosis of pandemic (H 1 N 1 ) influenza-A pneumonia in hospitalized cases.…”

“…In a study of 1046 patients, Bewick et al (15) similarly reported that the presence of ≥38°C fever and altered mental state was associated with pandemic (H 1 N 1 ) influenza-A pneumonia. Unlike seasonal influenza, seen in previous years, thrombocytopenia have been experienced in pandemic (H 1 N 1 ) influenza-A in some studies from Turkey and internationally (3,12,(16)(17)(18)(19). Leukopenia and lymphopenia, which is an indicator of viral infection, is a common finding in pandemic (H 1 N 1 ) influenza-A pneumonia (3,15).…”

“…In previous studies, it was reported that pneumonia due to pandemic (H 1 N 1 ) influenza-A developed in relatively young patients (2,12), and showed similarities as pneumonia irrelevant to H 1 N 1 cases in terms of the distribution of comorbid diseases (3,12). However, obesity, pregnancy, and comorbid conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were shown to increase the severity of the disease in pandemic (H 1 N 1 ) influenza-A pneumonia (3,4).…”

“…Therefore, mortality rate may differ in ICU patients and was reported to vary between 15% and 62.5% according to the centers (4,23,24). However, in some studies, the mortality rate of pandemic (H 1 N 1 ) influenza-A pneumonia cases not requiring ICU support did not differ from that of CAP with no H 1 N 1 infection (3,15).…”