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Obese H1N1 (Mexican Flu) Patients May Face Higher Mortality Rate.
Intensive-Care Patients With Severe Novel Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infection --- Michigan, June 2009
Quote:
Cases of novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infection have included rapidly progressive lower respiratory tract disease resulting in respiratory failure, development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) admission (2). Since April 26, communitywide transmission of novel influenza A (H1N1) virus has occurred in Michigan, with 655 probable and confirmed cases reported as of June 18 (Michigan Department of Community Health [MDCH], unpublished data, 2009). This report summarizes the clinical characteristics of a series of 10 patients with novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infection and ARDS at a tertiary-care ICU in Michigan. Of the 10 patients, nine were obese (body mass index [BMI] ≥30), including seven who were extremely obese (BMI ≥40); five had pulmonary emboli; and nine had multiorgan dysfunction syndrome (MODS). Three patients died. Clinicians should be aware of the potential for severe complications of novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infection, particularly in extremely obese patients.
Illness onset of the 10 patients occurred during May 22--June 13. The median age was 46 years (range: 21--53 years); nine patients were obese, including seven who were extremely obese (Table). In the three fatal cases, the time from illness onset to death ranged from 17 to 30 days. Four patients received steroids during their illness before transfer to the SICU; two with asthma received oral steroids as outpatients during the initial evaluation and treatment of their acute respiratory illness (one was on chronic oral steroids for underlying lung disease, and one without chronic pulmonary disease was prescribed oral steroids and oral antimicrobials). Five patients received intravenous corticosteroids during their SICU hospitalization: four for treatment of severe vasopressor-dependent refractory septic shock, and one for continuation of therapy for chronic pulmonary disease.
All 10 patients required initial advanced mechanical ventilation (high-frequency oscillatory or bilevel ventilation with high mean airway pressures [32--55 cm H20]). Two patients required veno-venous ECMO support. Six required continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) for acute renal failure. Upon transfer to the SICU, five had elevated white blood cell counts, and one had a decreased white blood cell count. The median white blood cell count (WBC) was 9,500 cells/mm3 (range: 3,700--19,700 cells/mm3; normal: 4,000--10,000 cells/mm3). All ten patients had elevated aspartate transaminase (AST) levels. The median AST level was 83.5 IU/L (range: 41--109 IU/L; normal: 8--30 IU/L). Six of the nine patients who were tested had elevated creatine phosphokinase (CPK) levels. The median CPK level was 999 IU/L (range: 51-- 6,572 IU/L; normal: 38--240 IU/L). Nine patients were admitted to the SICU with MODS, and nine manifested septic shock requiring vasopressor support. All 10 patients required tracheostomy.
Chest radiograph findings in all 10 patients were abnormal, with bilateral infiltrates consistent with severe multilobar pneumonia or ARDS. Computed tomography (CT) of the chest confirmed pulmonary emboli in four patients at admission to the SICU and in one additional patient who deteriorated 6 days after admission to the SICU. A hypercoagulable state was evident in two additional patients. One of these patients had frequent clotting of the CRRT circuit despite regional citrate anticoagulation. Another patient had bilateral iliofemoral deep venous thromboses, necessitating systemic heparin anticoagulation. None of the 10 patients had evidence of concomitant disseminated intravascular coagulation by laboratory studies.
The high prevalence of obesity in this case series is striking. Whether obesity is an independent risk factor for severe complications of novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infection is unknown. Obesity has not been identified previously as a risk factor for severe complications of seasonal influenza. In a mouse model, diet-induced obese mice had significantly higher mortality when infected with seasonal influenza virus compared with their leaner counterparts (4). In addition, extremely obese patients have a higher prevalence of comorbid conditions that confer higher risk for influenza complications, including chronic heart, lung, liver, and metabolic diseases.
One study of patients admitted to critical-care units indicated that obesity was an independent risk factor for mortality (5). A meta-analysis concluded that prolonged duration of mechanical ventilation and longer SICU length of stay, but not mortality, are associated with obesity (6). Another study reported that extremely obese ICU patients had higher rates of mortality, nursing home admission, and ICU complications compared with moderately obese patients (BMI 30--39) (7). Further investigations of the role of extreme obesity and accompanying comorbidities in severely ill patients with novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infection are needed.
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http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwr...m58d0710a1.htm
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Last edited by Joe_J.; July 12th, 2009 at 01:48 AM.
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