Journal of Infection and Public Health (Sep 2024)
Characteristics of medically attended influenza infection across age groups before the COVID-19 pandemic in Lebanon
- Amani Haddara,
- Zeina Houry,
- Nada Zahreddine,
- Mark Atallah,
- Celina F. Boutros,
- Joseph Tannous,
- Christian Sadaka,
- Sarah Wehbe,
- Tamara Kadi,
- Ahmad Ibrahim,
- Rihab Ahmadieh,
- Tala Kardas,
- Nadia Soudani,
- Habib Al Kalamouni,
- Youssef Zgheib,
- Noha El Yaman,
- Sarah Khafaja,
- Mireille Lteif,
- Rouba Shaker,
- Aia Assaf Casals,
- Yolla Youssef,
- Nour Youssef,
- Zeinab El Zein,
- Sarah Chamseddine,
- Ahmad Chmaisse,
- Magda Haj,
- Danielle Fayad,
- Shereen Kiblawi,
- Imad Isaac,
- Hind Anan,
- Najwa Radwan,
- Rima Hanna Wakim,
- Hassan Zaraket,
- Souha S. Kanj,
- Ghassan S. Dbaibo
Affiliations
- Amani Haddara
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, American University of Beirut, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon; Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon
- Zeina Houry
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon
- Nada Zahreddine
- Infection Control and Prevention Program, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon
- Mark Atallah
- Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon
- Celina F. Boutros
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, American University of Beirut, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon
- Joseph Tannous
- Infection Control and Prevention Program, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon; Infection Control Department, Emirates health services, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Christian Sadaka
- Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon
- Sarah Wehbe
- Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon
- Tamara Kadi
- Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon
- Ahmad Ibrahim
- Infection Control and Prevention Program, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon
- Rihab Ahmadieh
- Infection Control and Prevention Program, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon
- Tala Kardas
- Infection Control and Prevention Program, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon; Infection Control Department, Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women & Children, Rabdan, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Nadia Soudani
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, American University of Beirut, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon; Department of Experimental Pathology, Immunology, and Microbiology, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- Habib Al Kalamouni
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, American University of Beirut, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon; Department of Experimental Pathology, Immunology, and Microbiology, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- Youssef Zgheib
- Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon
- Noha El Yaman
- Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon
- Sarah Khafaja
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, American University of Beirut, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon; Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon; Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon
- Mireille Lteif
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, American University of Beirut, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon; Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon
- Rouba Shaker
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, American University of Beirut, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon; Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon; Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon
- Aia Assaf Casals
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, American University of Beirut, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon; Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon; Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon
- Yolla Youssef
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, American University of Beirut, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon; Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon; Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon
- Nour Youssef
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, American University of Beirut, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon; Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon; Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon
- Zeinab El Zein
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, American University of Beirut, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon
- Sarah Chamseddine
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, American University of Beirut, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon
- Ahmad Chmaisse
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, American University of Beirut, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon
- Magda Haj
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, American University of Beirut, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon
- Danielle Fayad
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, American University of Beirut, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon
- Shereen Kiblawi
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, American University of Beirut, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon; Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon
- Imad Isaac
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, American University of Beirut, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon
- Hind Anan
- Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon
- Najwa Radwan
- Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon
- Rima Hanna Wakim
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, American University of Beirut, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon; Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon; Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon
- Hassan Zaraket
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, American University of Beirut, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon; Department of Experimental Pathology, Immunology, and Microbiology, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon; Correspondence to: Roche Products Ltd, Welwyn Garden City, England, UK.
- Souha S. Kanj
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, American University of Beirut, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon; Infection Control and Prevention Program, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon; Infectious Diseases Division, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon; Correspondence to: Center for Infectious Diseases Research, Infectious Diseases Division, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Hamra, Beirut 1107, Lebanon.
- Ghassan S. Dbaibo
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, American University of Beirut, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon; Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon; Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon; Correspondence to: Center for Infectious Diseases Research, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Hamra, Beirut 1107, Lebanon.
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 17,
no. 9
p. 102521
Abstract
Background: Influenza represents a significant global health burden for individuals and society. This study assessed the burden of medically attended influenza at a tertiary medical center in Lebanon to describe the demographics, risk factors, and outcomes prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This was a retrospective review of patients who tested positive for the influenza virus during three seasons between July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2019, at the American University of Beirut Medical Center. Results: A total of 2049 patients who tested positive for influenza were analyzed. Influenza A accounted for 79.6 % of cases, and influenza B for 19.7 %, with influenza activity starting in October/November and peaking in December/January. Older age above 65 years (AOR=3.584), obesity (AOR=2.183), and chronic conditions such as chronic lung diseases (AOR=1.832), and bacterial co-infection (AOR= 2.834) were found to be independent risk factors for developing complications. Viral co-infection increased the likelihood of death tenfold. Vaccinated patients had a shorter mean hospital stay duration and a lower intensive care unit admission rate. Conclusion: The burden of medically attended influenza at our tertiary medical center in Lebanon prior to the COVID-19 pandemic was high. Vaccination decreased the likelihood of complications leading to intensive care unit admission in patients at risk.
