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Thursday, 03/03/2011
Key features of clinical presentation of patients with novel H1N1 associated pneumonia compared to seasonal influenza pneumonia
This collaborative study was published last 25th of November in the European Respiratory Journal
A recent study of Dr. Raul Riquelme, from the University of San Sebastian and the Puerto Mont Hospital in Chile, and Dr. Antonio Torres, Chief of Intensive Care Unit of Respiratory (UVIR) in the Hospital Clinic and group leader of the Applied Research in Respiratory Diseases (IAMR) team of the IDIBAPS, has investigated patients with influenza A (H1N1) and seasonal influenza pneumonia. Data of clinical presentation, complications and outcomes have been comparatively analysed in the two groups of patients.
The group of 75 patients with influenza A(H1N1) pneumonia was compared with 52 patients with seasonal influenza associated pneumonia. Patients with novel H1N1 influenza pneumonia were younger and had less chronic comorbidities and alcohol habit. Furthermore, multilobar pulmonary infiltration was more frequent such as acute respiratory failure in the H1N1 group; in parallel a higher rate of intensive care unit admission and of mechanical ventilation were also observed. Finally, the mortality in patients with novel H1N1 pneumonia was almost double than in seasonal influenza, and was attributable to pneumonia in most instances.
In conclusion, younger age, less comorbidities, greater radiographic extension, more severe respiratory failure and need of ICU admission are key features of clinical presentation of novel H1N1-associated pneumonia in comparison with seasonal influenza pneumonia. This collaborative study was published last 25th of November in the European Respiratory Journal (article).