Factors Associated with Hospitalization in Patients with H1N1 Influenza in Afzalipour Hospital, Kerman, Iran, 2015: A case-control Study

Evidence suggests that underlying diseases increase the severity of influenza and lead to hospitalization or death. This study was conducted to determine the risk factors associated with hospitalization of patients in Afzalipour Hospital, Kerman, Iran during an outbreak of H1N1 influenza in December 2015.

In this case-control study, the case group comprised 85 patients who were hospitalized for influenza and the control group included 51 patients who had influenza symptoms and were discharged after required evaluations and check-up. The data were collected from both groups on a daily basis for two weeks. For data analysis, descriptive analysis, logistic regression analysis, Lasso Regression, and likelihood ratio were used. Analysis was performed using the Stata version 12 and R software.

Among the variables examined, after removal of additional variables, 12 variables were introduced into the multivariate regression. The history of pulmonary disease and diabetes increased the odds of hospitalization following influenza by more than 11 (OR = 11.6, P. value = 0.003) and 9 times (OR = 9, P. value = 0.01), respectively.

Underlying disease and factors play a major role in exacerbating the disease. Therefore, the health system should take the necessary preventive measures when outbreaks occur