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More than half of the adults hospitalized in the early days of the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) pandemic in New York City were obese, and 92% of the obese patients had underlying medical conditions, according a recent review.
To quickly assess the severity of illness and identify those at greatest risk from the emerging virus, researchers at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene reviewed data from the first 99 patients with confirmed H1N1 influenza admitted to any hospital in New York City. The study population included 19 patients aged 0–4 years, 39 patients aged 5–17 years, 32 patients aged 18–49 years, 8 patients aged 50–64 years, and 1 patient aged 65 or older. The patients with H1N1 influenza were disproportionately younger compared with the general population (MMWR 2010;58:1436–40).
A total of 95 (96%) patients had fevers at admission, and 89 (90%) complained of cough. Also, 37 children (younger than 18 years) and 36 adults (aged 18 years and older) had at least one underlying medical condition known to increase the risk of flu complications, and 7 children and 10 adults had more than one such condition. Asthma, the most common underlying medical condition, was noted in 29 children (50%) and 19 adults (46%). Chronic metabolic disorders, including diabetes, were reported in 11 patients (11%).
Body mass index data were available for 28 children and 20 adults. Four of the five obese children and 11 of the 12 obese adults had underlying medical conditions, including asthma and Down syndrome. Three of the four patients who died were obese; their underlying medical conditions included asthma and Down syndrome.
Of the 76 patients treated with oseltamivir, 36 (47%) were treated within 2 days of symptom onset, but the median time to treatment from the onset of illness was 3 days. Hospital stays were shorter for patients who started antiviral therapy within 2 days.
The study was limited by several factors including the potential underreporting of cases and the difference in reporting protocol later in the pandemic, when data were collected from sentinel hospitals only.
The findings confirm that patients at high risk should be encouraged to get vaccinated, the researchers said.
More than half of the adults hospitalized in the early days of the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) pandemic in New York City were obese, and 92% of the obese patients had underlying medical conditions, according a recent review.
To quickly assess the severity of illness and identify those at greatest risk from the emerging virus, researchers at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene reviewed data from the first 99 patients with confirmed H1N1 influenza admitted to any hospital in New York City. The study population included 19 patients aged 0–4 years, 39 patients aged 5–17 years, 32 patients aged 18–49 years, 8 patients aged 50–64 years, and 1 patient aged 65 or older. The patients with H1N1 influenza were disproportionately younger compared with the general population (MMWR 2010;58:1436–40).
A total of 95 (96%) patients had fevers at admission, and 89 (90%) complained of cough. Also, 37 children (younger than 18 years) and 36 adults (aged 18 years and older) had at least one underlying medical condition known to increase the risk of flu complications, and 7 children and 10 adults had more than one such condition. Asthma, the most common underlying medical condition, was noted in 29 children (50%) and 19 adults (46%). Chronic metabolic disorders, including diabetes, were reported in 11 patients (11%).
Body mass index data were available for 28 children and 20 adults. Four of the five obese children and 11 of the 12 obese adults had underlying medical conditions, including asthma and Down syndrome. Three of the four patients who died were obese; their underlying medical conditions included asthma and Down syndrome.
Of the 76 patients treated with oseltamivir, 36 (47%) were treated within 2 days of symptom onset, but the median time to treatment from the onset of illness was 3 days. Hospital stays were shorter for patients who started antiviral therapy within 2 days.
The study was limited by several factors including the potential underreporting of cases and the difference in reporting protocol later in the pandemic, when data were collected from sentinel hospitals only.
The findings confirm that patients at high risk should be encouraged to get vaccinated, the researchers said.
More than half of the adults hospitalized in the early days of the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) pandemic in New York City were obese, and 92% of the obese patients had underlying medical conditions, according a recent review.
To quickly assess the severity of illness and identify those at greatest risk from the emerging virus, researchers at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene reviewed data from the first 99 patients with confirmed H1N1 influenza admitted to any hospital in New York City. The study population included 19 patients aged 0–4 years, 39 patients aged 5–17 years, 32 patients aged 18–49 years, 8 patients aged 50–64 years, and 1 patient aged 65 or older. The patients with H1N1 influenza were disproportionately younger compared with the general population (MMWR 2010;58:1436–40).
A total of 95 (96%) patients had fevers at admission, and 89 (90%) complained of cough. Also, 37 children (younger than 18 years) and 36 adults (aged 18 years and older) had at least one underlying medical condition known to increase the risk of flu complications, and 7 children and 10 adults had more than one such condition. Asthma, the most common underlying medical condition, was noted in 29 children (50%) and 19 adults (46%). Chronic metabolic disorders, including diabetes, were reported in 11 patients (11%).
Body mass index data were available for 28 children and 20 adults. Four of the five obese children and 11 of the 12 obese adults had underlying medical conditions, including asthma and Down syndrome. Three of the four patients who died were obese; their underlying medical conditions included asthma and Down syndrome.
Of the 76 patients treated with oseltamivir, 36 (47%) were treated within 2 days of symptom onset, but the median time to treatment from the onset of illness was 3 days. Hospital stays were shorter for patients who started antiviral therapy within 2 days.
The study was limited by several factors including the potential underreporting of cases and the difference in reporting protocol later in the pandemic, when data were collected from sentinel hospitals only.
The findings confirm that patients at high risk should be encouraged to get vaccinated, the researchers said.