Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of humans with avian influenza A (H7N9) infection in Guangdong, China, 2013-2017.

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Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of humans with avian influenza A (H7N9) infection in Guangdong, China, 2013-2017.

Int J Infect Dis. 2017 Dec;65:148-155

Authors: Yang Y, Zhong H, Song T, He J, Guo L, Tan X, Huang G, Kang M

Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe the demographics and clinical characteristics of patients with A (H7N9) infection, to test the differences in the distribution of demographics and clinical characteristics by clinical severity, and to explore potential factors associated with clinical severity.
METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted to collect epidemiological and clinical information regarding the confirmed cases in Guangdong through field investigation and review of medical records.
RESULTS: Of the 256 cases, 100 (39.0%) patients died, and 168 (65.6%) patients were admitted to ICUs. The male-to-female ratio was approximately 2.0:1, and the median age was 56 years (range, 1 to 88). Among the 215 patients accepting oseltamivir treatment, the median time from the onset of illness to oseltamivir treatment was 5days (range, 0 to 16); 35 patients received zanamivir treatment after a median of 8days (range, 0 to 23). The univariable logistic regression models demonstrated that time from the onset of illness to oseltamivir treatment (OR=1.10, 95% CI=1.01-1.10) and zanamivir treatment (OR=1.05, 95% CI=1.02-1.07) were associated with the death of patients.
CONCLUSIONS: Preventive measures should focus on high-risk populations, such as the elderly and the groups with high frequency exposure to live poultry. Earlier oseltamivir and zanamivir treatment were recommended.

PMID: 29128273 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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