title: Predictors of the therapeutic response of patients with influenza A (H1N1) 2009 infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine a predictive potential of biochemical and clinical parameters, including independent predictors of the therapeutic outcome in patients with H1N1 influenza.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective study, 119 patients treated at the Clinic for Infectious Diseases in Tuzla in the period July 2009 to February 2010 were included. They were at the age of 1 month up to 80 years. The patients showed clinical, epidemiological and biochemical parameters of the pandemic flu and they had also been positive for the virus A (H1N1), which was confirmed by the real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and nineteen patients were positive to the virus A (H1N1), 60 (50.4%) were male, and 59 (49.6%) female patients. The average age of the patients was 26.74 years. The number of patients with co-morbidity was 53 (44.5%). There were 71 (59.7%) patients who had been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. The complications of the flu had appeared in 45 (37.8%) patients. Pneumonia was recorded in 108 (90.8%), and reduced saturation in 62 (52.1%) patients. The highest number of cured patients was in the group of patients who had received the oseltamivir within 48 hours after the outbreak of the disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The age, reduced saturation with oxygen, duration of the hospitalization, pregnancy and overweight were independent predictors of the severe form of the disease/lethal outcome. For an optimal therapeutic outcome, it is important to apply antiviral therapy as soon as possible.
authors.affiliation: 1Clinic for Infectious Diseases, 2Department of Microbiology; University Clinical Centre Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
authors.forename: Rahima
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jahić
authors.forename: Sead
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahmetagić
authors.forename: Humera
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Porobić-Jahić
authors.forename: Dilista
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Piljić
authors.forename: Fatima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Numanović
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; D007251:Influenza, Human; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents