Abstract
Aim: To describe the characteristics and outcomes of patients hospitalized H1N1 influenza infection.
Methods: Retrospective analysis of the medical records of patients hospitalized with H1N1 infection in our hospital (August09/April10). All patients underwent nasopharyngeal PCR swab for H1N1. Results are expressed as mean ± standard deviation for quantitative variables.
Results: 93 patients (18.34%) were positive for influenza A virus. The clinical features, risk factors and outcomes are available in the tables.
The presenting symptoms were fever (89.2%), cough (92%), dyspnea (65.5%), digestive problems (26.9%), myalgia and headache (53%). 52.2% had community acquired pneumonia on admission. Major complications during hospitalization were (15.6%): respiratory insufficiency (50%), Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (8.9%), pneumothorax (3.3%), pleural effusion (1.1%) and multisystem organ failure (3.4%).
Conclusions: Patients hospitalized for H1N1 infection are mainly middle-aged. Pneumonia and/or decompensate co-morbidities were the main causes of hospitalization. The most common risk factor was the chronic lung disease.
- © 2011 ERS