Article ID: JJID.2016.210
Retrospective analysis of the surveillance of laboratory confirmed cases of influenza in four post pandemic seasons in Serbia, was performed to evaluate predictors of hospitalization and admission to intensive care units (ICU). The specimens, which combined nasal and throat swabs were tested for influenza. For statistical analysis univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used. 777 confirmed influenza cases were analyzed. Age over 65 years, the presence of any co-morbidity or the presence of two or more comorbidities, infection with influenza A(H1)pdm09 and the interval of more than 3 days from the onset of symptoms to the first visit to a physician were independently associated with admission to the hospital. The identical predictors were for admission to ICU, plus one more which was not sub-typed influenza virus A. Obesity and chronic neurological diseases were independent predictors of admission to ICU but not for the hospitalization. Among all, 41.7% of patients with influenza had at least one co-morbidity, but only 3% of all patients were vaccinated against influenza. Identification and education of risk groups regarding the question why they can get a severe form of influenza is essential, particularly in terms of the importance of vaccination against this disease.
