The effects of age on clinical characteristics, hospitalization and mortality of patients with influenza‐related illness at a tertiary care centre in Malaysia

Abstract

Background:Age is an established risk factor for poor outcomes in individuals with influenza-related illness, and data on its influence on clinical presentations and outcomes in the South-East Asian settings are scarce. The aim of this study was to determine the above among adults with influenza-related upper respiratory tract infection at a teaching hospital in Malaysia. Methods:A retrospective case-note analysis was conducted on a cohort of 3935 patients attending primary care at with URTI symptoms. Demographics, clinical characteristics, medical and vaccination history were obtained from electronic medical records, and mortality data from the National Registration Department. Comparisons were made between those aged <25, ≥25 to <65 and ≥65 years.Results: 470 (11.9%) had PCR-confirmed influenza virus infection. Six (1.3%) received prior influenza vaccination. Those aged ≥65 years were more likely to have ≥2 comorbidities (P < .001) and were less likely to present with fever (P = .004). One-third of those aged ≥65 years experienced hospitalization, intensive care admission or death within a year compared to 10% in the ≥25 to <65 years. Age ≥65 years was an independent predictor of hospitalization and death (OR = 9.97; 95% CI = 3.11-31.93) compared to those aged <25 years. Conclusion:Older patients in our cohort were more likely to have comorbidities and present with atypical features, with older age being an independent predictor of poor health outcomes. Our findings will now inform future health policies on older persons and economic modelling of adult vaccination programmes.

Clinical features of COVID-19 and influenza: a comparative study on Nord Franche-Comte cluster

“…On the other hand, sore throat, conjunctival hyperemia, tearing, sneezing, sputum production, dyspnea, vomiting and rhonchi at pulmonary auscultation were more frequently described in influenza group than COVID-19 group with statistically significant differences. Sore throat was a well-known symptom in influenza, found in about 30e40% of the patients in the literature as in our study [25,27,28]. Conjunctival hyperemia seems to be rare with COVID-19, less than 5% of cases in our study vs 30% of cases in influenza group (p < 0.001).…”

“…About respiratory symptoms, sputum production and dyspnea were statistically more frequents in influenza group than in COVID-19 group (respectively 52% vs 29%, p ¼ 0.010 and 59% vs 34%, p ¼ 0.007). In a study with 470 patients with confirmed influenza, 286 (64%) had a productive cough [27]. Dyspnea was also described in more than half of patients with influenza A [28,30].…”

Myocardial Injury on Admission as a Risk in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients: A Retrospective in-ICU Study

“…Age and pre-existing CVD have been associated with higher mortality in critically ill patients with viral infection. 23 , 24 , 25 Older patients may have more comorbidities (i.e., CAD, hypertension, chronic kidney disease and diabetes) and a higher rate of CV complications. In fact, no patients over 80 years had survived at the end of this study.…”

The relationship of COVID-19 severity with cardiovascular disease and its traditional risk factors: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…The positive association of sociodemographic factors (age, male sex, and smoking) with severe COVID-19 is consistent with reports of other infectious diseases (e.g., influenza virus and SARS in 2003). [27][28][29] There are several plausible mechanisms. Older age is linked to reduced immune reaction, more comorbidities, and limited organ reserve.…”