Clinical and Paraclinical Characteristics of Fatalities due to Influenza
A (H1N1) Virus in Hospitalized Patients
Abstract
Background: H1N1 influenza has a high mortality rate due to its
potentially life-threatening complications. The current study aims to
investigate the relationship between the outcomes of the disease and
clinical, paraclinical, and imaging findings in patients with H1N1
influenza. Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study carried
out at Imam Khomeini Hospital, Iran, medical records of 64 patients
hospitalized from 21 March to 21 September 2019 were analyzed. Recorded
clinical information and paraclinical and imaging findings of the
patients were extracted and compared with the course of their disease.
Clinical outcomes were defined as the death or survival of the patients.
The data were analyzed using the SPSS software. Results: The mortality
rate in the patient was 9.4% (6 patients). 81% had the following
concurrent predisposing diseases: hypertension (17.8%), cardiovascular
disease (13.7%), and diabetes mellitus (11%). Approximately 80%
(51%) had received oseltamivir. In the patients, the most common
presentations were cough (13.4%), fever (13.2%), and myalgia (10.8%).
In the deceased patients, the oxygen saturation was decreased (P=0.037),
and the pulse rate (P=0.012), respiratory rate (P<0.0001),
alkaline phosphatase levels (P=0.001), and ALT levels (P=0.003) were
increased. In the CT scan reports, in more than 53% of the patients,
all lung lobes were involved with ill-defined margins in 94% of the
patients, with the most common sites of the lesion being central and
peripheral (27%) and posterior (22%) regions. Conclusion: Oxygen
saturation, pulse rate, breathing rate, and laboratory findings (ALP and
ALT) can predict the prognostic of the patients with H1N1 influenza.