title: Risk factors for encephalitis from West Nile Virus: a matched case-control study using hospitalized controls.
abstract: We conducted a case-control study to determine risk factors for developing encephalitis among West Nile virus cases when compared with age-, gender and race/ethnicity-matched hospitalized controls. In the multivariable conditional logistic regression analysis, we identified the following independent risk factors associated with being an encephalitis case: hypertension (OR 4.0; P = 0.005), immunosuppressing conditions (OR 5.6; P = 0.001) and cardiovascular disease (OR = 28.3; P < 0.001). Individuals with these comorbidities should be targeted for education on protecting themselves from mosquito exposures.
authors.affiliation: The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health, USA. Kristy.O.Murray@uth.tmc.edu
authors.forename: K O
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Koers
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baraniuk
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Herrington
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sierra
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kilborn
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arafat
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D015897:Comorbidity; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000453:epidemiology*