[Clinical features of adults younger and older than 50 years hospitalized with influenza A H1N1 2009 in a private hospital in Santiago, Chile].
BACKGROUND
The new pandemic influenza A H1N1 2009 virus has shown a different clinical behavior in different age groups.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the clinical features of adult patients hospitalized with influenza AH1N1 2009 and compare the clinical and demographic variables among adults < 50 years and over 50 years old.


METHODS
We included hospitalized patients between May 17 and July 17, 2009 confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and/or rapid test for influenza A.


RESULTS
124 patients were hospitalized with a median age of 33 years (range: 15-82 years). 36% had comorbidities and the main symptoms were fever, cough, myalgia and sore throat. There were 16 cases with pneumonia. From 124 patients, 77% were < 50 and 23% > or = 50, [corrected] with comorbidity of 21% and 86%, respectively. There were no fatalities.


CONCLUSIONS
Hospitalized patients had mild to moderate disease, a benign course and short hospitalization stay. There were more hospitalizations in A-49 and higher comorbidity in A-50.
Baehr M
Franz
F
Sub Dirección de Investigación, Clínica Las Condes, Santiago, Chile. fbaehr@clc.cl
Morín R
Gissella
G
Del Solar H
José A
JA
Olivi R
Henry
H
Torres T
Juan P
JP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult