Abstract
BackgroundDuring the 2011/2012 winter influenza season in the Republic of Korea, influenza A (H3N2) was the predominant virus in the first peak period of influenza activity during the second half of January 2012. On the other hand, influenza B was the predominant virus in the second peak period of influenza activity during the second half of March 2012. The objectives of this study were to compare the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with laboratory-confirmed influenza A or influenza B.Methodology/Principal FindingsWe analyzed data from 2,129 adult patients with influenza-like illnesses who visited the emergency rooms of seven university hospitals in Korea from October 2011 to May 2012. Of 850 patients with laboratory-confirmed influenza, 656 (77.2%) had influenza A (H3N2), and 194 (22.8%) influenza B. Age, and the frequencies of cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, hypertension were significantly higher in patients with influenza A (H3N2) (P<0.05). The frequencies of leukopenia or thrombocytopenia in patients with influenza B at initial presentation were statistically higher than those in patients with influenza A (H3N2) (P<0.05). The rate of hospitalization, and length of hospital stay were statistically higher in patients with influenza A (H3N2) (P<0.05), and of the 79 hospitalized patients, the frequency of diabetes, hypertension, cases having at least one of the comorbid conditions, and the proportion of elderly were significantly higher in patients with influenza A (H3N2) (P<0.05).ConclusionsThe proportion of males to females and elderly population were significantly higher for influenza A (H3N2) patients group compared with influenza B group. Hypertension, diabetes, chronic lung diseases, cardiovascular disorders, and neuromuscular diseases were independently associated with hospitalization due to influenza. Physicians should assess and treat the underlying comorbid conditions as well as influenza viral infections for the appropriate management of patients with influenza.
Highlights
During the 2011–2012 northern hemisphere winter influenza season, the temperate countries of northern Asia had both influenza A (H3N2) and influenza B peaks, with influenza A (H3N2) appearing first in the Republic of Korea and Japan followed by influenza B, with the reverse sequence occurring in China and Mongolia [1]
The proportion of males to females and elderly population were significantly higher for influenza A (H3N2) patients group compared with influenza B group
Hypertension, diabetes, chronic lung diseases, cardiovascular disorders, and neuromuscular diseases were independently associated with hospitalization due to influenza
Summary
During the 2011–2012 northern hemisphere winter influenza season, the temperate countries of northern Asia had both influenza A (H3N2) and influenza B peaks, with influenza A (H3N2) appearing first in the Republic of Korea and Japan followed by influenza B, with the reverse sequence occurring in China and Mongolia [1]. In the Republic of Korea, influenza A (H3N2) was the predominant virus in the first peak period of influenza activity during the second half of January 2012. In the Republic of Korea, Influenza B increased markedly late in the season, even though influenza A (H3N2) was the predominant virus during the 2011–2012 winter influenza season in the northern hemisphere. During the 2011/2012 winter influenza season in the Republic of Korea, influenza A (H3N2) was the predominant virus in the first peak period of influenza activity during the second half of January 2012. Influenza B was the predominant virus in the second peak period of influenza activity during the second half of March 2012. The objectives of this study were to compare the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with laboratoryconfirmed influenza A or influenza B
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