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Published in: Infection 4/2011

01-08-2011 | Clinical and Epidemiological Study

Clinical aspects of 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in Austria

Authors: W. Poeppl, M. Hell, H. Herkner, B. Stoiser, G. Fritsche, N. Schurz-Bamieh, G. Poeppl, R. Gattringer, N. Jones, M. Maass, A. Egle, H. Burgmann

Published in: Infection | Issue 4/2011

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Abstract

Purpose

To describe the clinical features, risk factors for severe disease and effectiveness of oseltamivir in patients with 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus infection.

Methods

In a prospective, cross-sectional, multicentre study, data on 540 patients with confirmed 2009 H1N1 infection from seven Austrian hospitals were collected using a standardised online case-history form.

Results

The median age of the patients was 19.3 years (range 26 days–90.8 years); point-of-care testing yielded false-negative results in 60.2% of the 176 cases tested. The most common symptoms were fever, cough, fatigue and headache. Overall, 343 patients (63.5%) were hospitalised, 49 (9.1%) were admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) and 14 (4.1%) died. Case fatality rates were highest (9.1%) in those aged 65 years or older. Factors significantly associated with a higher risk for ICU admission included age, neurological disease, adipositas, and both interstitial pathology and lobular pathology on chest X-ray. No association with pregnancy, malignancy or immunosuppressive therapy was detected. Antiviral treatment significantly reduced the duration of fever by 0.66 days and lowered the risk of ICU admission, but had no significant benefit on survival.

Conclusions

During the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, elderly or obese patients and those with neurological disease had an increased risk for severe H1N1 infection in Austria. Pregnancy was not associated with a higher risk for severe disease in the later phase of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. Antiviral treatment provided a minimal effect on the symptoms of influenza but reduced the risk of admission to an ICU.
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Metadata
Title
Clinical aspects of 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in Austria
Authors
W. Poeppl
M. Hell
H. Herkner
B. Stoiser
G. Fritsche
N. Schurz-Bamieh
G. Poeppl
R. Gattringer
N. Jones
M. Maass
A. Egle
H. Burgmann
Publication date
01-08-2011
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Infection / Issue 4/2011
Print ISSN: 0300-8126
Electronic ISSN: 1439-0973
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-011-0121-9

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