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Kumar, A., Zarychanski, R., Pinto, R., Cook, D.J., Marshall, J., Lacroix, J., Stelfox, T., Bagshaw, S., Choong, K., Lamontagne, F., Turgeon, A.F., Lapinsky, S., Ahern, S.P., Smith, O. and Siddiqui, F. (2009) Critically Ill Patients with 2009 Influenza A (H1N1) Infections in Canada. JAMA, 302, 1872-1879. http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.2009.1496

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• TITLE: The Prevalence and Outcomes of Influenza Virus Infection in Heart Failure Patients in Brazil: Influenza Infection in Heart Failure

  AUTHORS: Henrique Godoy, Juliana Soares, Paula Zanellatto Neves, N.C.J. Bellei, Dirceu R. Almeida

  KEYWORDS: Influenza Virus, Heart Failure, Epidemiology

  JOURNAL NAME: Advances in Infectious Diseases, Vol.5 No.3, September 2, 2015

  ABSTRACT: Background: Respiratory tract infections were associated with acute exacerbations of heart failure (HF). However, the role of the influenza virus, a major agent of such infections, in this population remained unclear. Method: During the influenza virus seasons of 2013 and 2014 we prospectively assessed influenza respiratory illnesses in a cohort of adults primarily hospitalized for management of acute decompensated HF and a cohort of HF outpatients. Qualitative RT-PCR forinfluenzaA (A/H1, A/H12009pdm, A/H3) and B virus testing was performed on nasopharyngeal swab samples. Result: A total of 121 patients were included, 58.3% males (n= 70), mean age 57.7 years old (±14.0), mean left ejection fraction 35.3 (±9.8). Of these, 50.4% were inpatients (n= 61). The prevalence of symptoms of respiratory infections was 28.0% (n= 34) and 4.9% (n= 6) of all samples were positive for influenza virus. Only influenza A was detected and all cases were among inpatients. Influenza-positive patients had a greater need for antimicrobials (83.3%,n= 5; 16.3%,n= 9;p= 0.001) and for mechanical ventilation (50.0%,n= 3; 3.6%,n= 2;pp= 0.16). Conclusion:Although not common, the influenza virus infection resulted in worst outcomes, with a greater need for antimicrobials and mechanical ventilation. Immunization and antiviral treatment in high risk patients may positively impact their outcomes.