tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
BMC Public Health. 2015 Jul 31;15(1):734. doi: 10.1186/s12889-015-2064-z.
[h=1]Demographic and clinical characteristics of deaths associated with influenza A(H1N1) pdm09 in Central America and Dominican Republic 2009-2010.[/h] Chacon R[SUP]1[/SUP], Mirza S[SUP]2[/SUP], Rodriguez D[SUP]3[/SUP], Paredes A[SUP]4[/SUP], Guzman G[SUP]5[/SUP], Moreno L[SUP]6[/SUP], Then CJ[SUP]7[/SUP], Jara J[SUP]8[/SUP], Blanco N[SUP]9[/SUP], Bonilla L[SUP]10[/SUP], Clara WA[SUP]11[/SUP], Minaya P[SUP]12[/SUP], Palekar R[SUP]13[/SUP], Azziz-Baumgartner E[SUP]14[/SUP].
[h=3]Author information[/h]
[h=3]Abstract[/h] [h=4]BACKGROUND:[/h] The demographic characteristics of pandemic influenza decedents among middle and low-income tropical countries are poorly understood. We explored the demographics of persons who died with influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 infection during 2009-2010, in seven countries in the American tropics.
[h=4]METHODS:[/h] We used hospital-based surveillance to identify laboratory-confirmed influenza deaths in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and Dominican Republic. An influenza death was defined as a person who died within two weeks of a severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) defined as sudden onset of fever >38 ?C, cough or sore-throat, and shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing requiring hospitalization, and who tested positive for influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 virus by real time polymerase chain reaction. We abstracted the demographic and clinical characteristics of the deceased from their medical records.
[h=4]RESULTS:[/h] During May 2009-June 2010, we identified 183 influenza deaths. Their median age was 32 years (IQR 18-46 years). One-hundred and one (55 %) were female of which 20 (20 %) were pregnant and 7 (7 %) were in postpartum. One-hundred and twelve decedents (61 %) had pre-existing medical conditions, (15 % had obesity, 13 % diabetes, 11 % asthma, 8 % metabolic disorders, 5 % chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and 10 % neurological disorders). 65 % received oseltamivir but only 5 % received it within 48 h of symptoms onset.
[h=4]CONCLUSIONS:[/h] The pandemic killed young adults, pregnant women and those with pre-existing medical conditions. Most sought care too late to fully benefit from oseltamivir. We recommend countries review antiviral treatment policies for people at high risk of developing complications.
PMID: 26227404 [PubMed - in process] PMCID: PMC4521479 Free PMC Article
[h=1]Demographic and clinical characteristics of deaths associated with influenza A(H1N1) pdm09 in Central America and Dominican Republic 2009-2010.[/h] Chacon R[SUP]1[/SUP], Mirza S[SUP]2[/SUP], Rodriguez D[SUP]3[/SUP], Paredes A[SUP]4[/SUP], Guzman G[SUP]5[/SUP], Moreno L[SUP]6[/SUP], Then CJ[SUP]7[/SUP], Jara J[SUP]8[/SUP], Blanco N[SUP]9[/SUP], Bonilla L[SUP]10[/SUP], Clara WA[SUP]11[/SUP], Minaya P[SUP]12[/SUP], Palekar R[SUP]13[/SUP], Azziz-Baumgartner E[SUP]14[/SUP].
[h=3]Author information[/h]
[h=3]Abstract[/h] [h=4]BACKGROUND:[/h] The demographic characteristics of pandemic influenza decedents among middle and low-income tropical countries are poorly understood. We explored the demographics of persons who died with influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 infection during 2009-2010, in seven countries in the American tropics.
[h=4]METHODS:[/h] We used hospital-based surveillance to identify laboratory-confirmed influenza deaths in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and Dominican Republic. An influenza death was defined as a person who died within two weeks of a severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) defined as sudden onset of fever >38 ?C, cough or sore-throat, and shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing requiring hospitalization, and who tested positive for influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 virus by real time polymerase chain reaction. We abstracted the demographic and clinical characteristics of the deceased from their medical records.
[h=4]RESULTS:[/h] During May 2009-June 2010, we identified 183 influenza deaths. Their median age was 32 years (IQR 18-46 years). One-hundred and one (55 %) were female of which 20 (20 %) were pregnant and 7 (7 %) were in postpartum. One-hundred and twelve decedents (61 %) had pre-existing medical conditions, (15 % had obesity, 13 % diabetes, 11 % asthma, 8 % metabolic disorders, 5 % chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and 10 % neurological disorders). 65 % received oseltamivir but only 5 % received it within 48 h of symptoms onset.
[h=4]CONCLUSIONS:[/h] The pandemic killed young adults, pregnant women and those with pre-existing medical conditions. Most sought care too late to fully benefit from oseltamivir. We recommend countries review antiviral treatment policies for people at high risk of developing complications.
PMID: 26227404 [PubMed - in process] PMCID: PMC4521479 Free PMC Article