Number Of CDC-Defined Influenza Risk Factors May Inform Risk For Severe Outcomes In Adults, Study Finds

Infectious Disease Advisor (6/14, McSwiggin) reported, “The number of influenza risk factors may indicate risk for severe outcomes in adult patients, according to study results published in Open Forum Infectious Diseases.” In the study, “higher cumulative number of CDC-defined risk factors was associated with increased risk for influenza-related medical encounters. The relationship between higher number of risk factors and increased risk for influenza-related ED or hospital admission was most pronounced among patients aged 50 to 64 years,” but “overall, the number of CDC-defined risk factors contributed more significantly to the risk for influenza-related medical encounters than patient age.”