Clinical Profile and Predictors of Mortality in H1N1 and Non-H1N1 Related ARDS in a Tertiary Care Center in South India SciDoc Publishers | Open Access | Science Journals | Media Partners

Introduction: H1N1 influenza has caused significant mortality across the world mostly due to ARDS. It is important to differentiate H1N1 ARDS from non-H1N1 ARDS for early treatment and also to study predictors of mortality in ARDS patients. Methodology: Prospective study was done in patients with ARDS admitted to RICU. Clinical characteristics and outcomes were compared among H1N1 and non-H1N1 ARDS. Cox regression was done for survival analysis. Results: 97 patients were admitted with ARDS. 59 were positive for H1N1. H1N1 ARDS patients had higher APACHE2 score, shorter duration of symptoms, worse hypoxemia compared to non-H1N1 ARDS. There was no difference in mortality between H1N1 and non-H1N1 ARDS. On multivariate Cox regression analysis, higher APACHE2 score, need for invasive ventilation and prolonged ICU were associated with increased mortality. Conclusion: Acute respiratory symptoms with severe hypoxemia, lymphopenia can be helpful to suspect H1N1 influenza in periphery for early referral. On multivariate Cox regression, higher APACHE2 score, prolonged ICU and need for invasive ventilation were independently associated with higher mortality