Heavy alcohol use as a risk factor for severe outcomes among adults hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza, 2005-2012.
We examined heavy alcohol use as a risk factor for severe influenza (intensive care admission or death) among hospitalized adults. In <65- and ≥65-year-olds, heavy alcohol use increased disease severity [relative risk (RR) 1.34; 95 % confidence interval (CI): 1.04-1.74, and RR 2.47; 95 % CI: 1.69-3.60, respectively]. Influenza vaccination and early, empiric antiviral treatment should be emphasized in this population.
Epidemic Intelligence Service Assigned to Influenza Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA, agreenbaum@jhmi.edu.
A
A
Greenbaum
S S
SS
Chaves
A
A
Perez
D
D
Aragon
A
A
Bandyopadhyay
N
N
Bennett
B
B
Fowler
E
E
Hancock
R
R
Lynfield
C
C
McDonald-Hamm
A
A
Reingold
P
P
Ryan
W
W
Schaffner
R
R
Sharangpani
M
M
Spencer
A
A
Thomas
K
K
Yousey-Hindes
S
S
Zansky
L
L
Finelli
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult