Estimating Co-morbidity of H1N1 Pandemic and Other Diseases: A Meta-analysis of Countries in Eastern Mediterranean Region

Background and Influenza A (H1N1), an acute respiratory disorders, is a highly contagious virus and can spread from person to person through sneezing or coughing. In 2009, pandemic influenza A (H1N1) emerged in some regions. This meta-analysis aimed at estimating the co-morbidity of 2009 H1N1 pandemic and other diseases in countries in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region.
All studies were searched in international databases. In order to increase the search sensitivity, the references were evaluated by two researchers independently. Then, eligible articles were selected by performing quality assessment of each article and implementation of inclusion/exclusion criteria. The heterogeneity observed among the results of primary studies were defined by Q and I2 tests. The co-morbidity rate of confirmed cases based on different countries and confidence intervals (95% CI) are expressed in forest plot graph.
This meta-analysis included 33311 articles. The highest incidence of Comorbidity is correct and liver failure are reported in Oman with 70.80 (59.75, 81.85) and 6.20 (0.34, 12.6), respectively. Also, the highest rate of obesity 27.50 (13.66, 41.34) and diabetes 35.00 (20.22, 49.78) were found in Qatar. Heart failure 25.00 (6.02, 43.98), kidney failure 32.40 (16.67, 48.13), malignancy 64.06 (48.94, 79.06), and COPD 24.10 (18.40, 29.80) were observed more in Oman, Tanzania, Jordan, and Iran, respectively.
This Meta- analysis showed that the incidence of co-morbidity is various among different countries in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, which might be associated with some factors such as lung disease, diabetes, kidney failure, obesity, cardiac and respiratory failure.