The characteristics, clinical manifestations and outcomes of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 in the elderly

• Main Authors: Luana Lenzi, Astrid Wiens, Roberto Pontarolo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2013-04-01
• Series: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Subjects: Pandemic influenza A (H1N1); Elderly; Clinical characteristics
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0037-86822013000200135

Introduction The objetctive of this study was to evaluate the 2009 Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) in the elderly and identify the clinical characteristics, mortality and prognostic factors of the infection in these patients. Methods This was an observational, retrospective study. Data were collected from the National Notifiable Diseases (SINAN), from the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Only patients 60 years old or more that had laboratory confirmed infections were included. The socio-demographic and clinical variables and outcomes were evaluated to compare mortality rates in the presence or absence of these factors. Results We included 93 patients in the study, 16.1% of whom died. The symptoms of cough and dyspnea, the use of the antiviral oseltamivir, influenza vaccine and comorbidities influenced the outcomes of cure or death. Chest radiography can aid in diagnosis. Conclusions Although relatively few elderly people were infected, this population presented high lethality that can be justified by the sum of clinical, physical and immunological factors in this population. Treatment with oseltamivir and vaccination against seasonal influenza have significantly reduced rates of hospitalization and mortality.