Mortality due to the 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) in Markazi Province of Iran

Influenza is an acute respiratory disease caused by influenza virus. Influenza epidemics are reported every year and worldwide pandemics occur with varying frequencies. The majority of mortalities are due to underlying diseases and complications associated with influenza. In this study, we evaluated ten fatal cases caused by the established type A influenza (H1N1) infection in the 2009-2010 pandemic.

This mortality survey was compiled by a review of the deceased patients’ files. The assessed variables were demographic data, underlying diseases, secondary infections, delayed commencement of therapy, and non-medication. Collected data were analyzed by measures of central tendency and dispersion using SPSS software.

In the ten deaths due to the established H1N1 virus, the median of age was 30 years and 90% of the cases had underlying diseases. Ninety percent of the deaths occurred during October and November and the rest took place in December and February.

The main cause of death was the delayed commencement of antiviral treatment. This emphasizes the importance of timely treatment in high risk patients. In flu pandemics, physicians should swiftly start specific therapy in at-risk groups to reduce the mortality rates.