Risk factors for community-acquired pneumonia with influenza A/H1N1 in southern Israel §

Summary Objectives To determine the risk factors for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) with influenza A/H1N1 flu in our region. Methods Adult patients with CAP from July 2009 to February 2010 who were screened for influenza A/H1N1 were identified retrospectively. This was a retrospective case–control study. Cases had CAP with influenza A/H1N1 and controls had CAP without influenza A/H1N1. Patient files were reviewed for demographics, clinical characteristics, treatment, and outcome. Results Three hundred and eight patients with CAP were identified: 107 cases and 201 controls. For cases vs. controls there were significant differences in the following: median age (40 (range 18–82) vs. 56 (range 18–89) years; p p p p p p p p Conclusions In our region CAP with influenza A/H1N1 occurred in younger females of Bedouin Arab origin with less co-morbidity. No difference in mortality was found. We believe that inequalities in socioeconomic conditions could explain our findings.