The swine flu H1N1 virus appeared during the spring of 2009, spreading into the U.S. and then worldwide. Now research reports that the majority of patients hospitalized with H1N1 influenza in the U.S. had underlying medical conditions. The underlying conditions included asthma, diabetes, pregnancy, and heart, lung and neurologic diseases.
The study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, examined data from 24 states of patients hospitalized with H1N1 influenza from April to June 2009. The 2009 Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Hospitalizations Investigation Team analyzed the medical charts of 272 patients hospitalized with H1N1 infection.
The researchers found that 73% of the patients had at least one underlying condition, the most common being asthma. In addition, 100% of patients over 65 years of age had underlying conditions. Findings also revealed that 7% of the patients died. However, none of the patients treated with antiviral drugs within 48 hours of getting sick had died.
"During the evaluation period, 2009 H1N1 influenza caused severe illness requiring hospitalization, including pneumonia and death," the study authors conclude. "Nearly three quarters of the patients had one or more underlying medical conditions. Few severe illnesses were reported among persons 65 years of age or older. Patients seemed to benefit from antiviral therapy."
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