title: Age as an independent risk factor for intensive care unit admission or death due to 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated risk factors for intensive care unit (ICU) admission or death among people hospitalized with 2009 pandemic influenza A (pH1N1) virus infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  We based analyses on data collected in Washington State from April 27 to September 18, 2009, on deceased or hospitalized people with laboratory-confirmed pH1N1 infection reported by health-care providers and hospitals as part of enhanced public health surveillance. We used bivariate analyses and multivariable logistic regression to identify risk factors associated with ICU admission or death due to pH1N1.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 123 patients admitted to the hospital but not an ICU and 61 patients who were admitted to an ICU or died. Independent of high-risk medical conditions, both older age and delayed time to hospital admission were identified as risk factors for ICU admission or death due to pH1N1. Specifically, the odds of ICU admission or death were 4.44 times greater among adults aged 18-49 years (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.97, 10.02) and 5.93 times greater among adults aged 50-64 years (95% CI 2.24, 15.65) compared with pediatric patients < 18 years of age. Likewise, hospitalized cases admitted more than two days after illness onset had 2.17 times higher odds of ICU admission or death than those admitted within two days of illness onset (95% CI 1.10, 4.25).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although certain medical conditions clearly influence the need for hospitalization among people infected with pH1N1 virus, older age and delayed time to admission each played an independent role in the progression to ICU admission or death among hospitalized patients.
authors.affiliation: Washington State Department of Health, Shoreline, WA, USA. nickelk@psychiatry.wustl.edu
authors.forename: Katelin B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Nickel
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Marsden-Haug
authors.forename: Kathryn H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lofy
authors.forename: Wayne L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Turnberg
authors.forename: Krista
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rietberg
authors.forename: Jennifer K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lloyd
authors.forename: Anthony A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Marfin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000401:mortality* / Q000821:virology*; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors; D014861:Washington / Q000453:epidemiology