title: Obesity and susceptibility to severe outcomes following respiratory viral infection.
abstract: During the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, obesity was convincingly identified as a novel, independent risk factor for multiple markers of disease severity. Associations between numerous nosocomial and community-acquired clinical infections have previously been established; yet, little is known about the mechanisms underpinning the increased susceptibility to severe outcomes following pandemic H1N1/09 infection in obesity. Here, we present a brief synthesis of the recent advances in our understanding of the immunomodulatory effects of obesity on outcomes following respiratory viral infection, with a particular focus on pandemic influenza.
authors: Airway Disease Infection Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, UK.
authors: Mark H
authors: MH
authors: Almond
authors: Michael R
authors: MR
authors: Edwards
authors: Wendy S
authors: WS
authors: Barclay
authors: Sebastian L
authors: SL
authors: Johnston
mesh_terms: D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D009017:Morbidity / Q000639:trends; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000821:virology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology
keywords: Immunodeficiency; Innate Immunity; Respiratory Infection; Viral Infection