Investigation of the Relationship Between Demographic Characteristics and Frequency of Mortality in Certain Cases of Influenza A (H1N1) From Yazd Province (Iran)

Background: One important feature of influenza viruses is the high rate of mutation in the virus coat proteins, hemagglutinin and neuraminidase. These viruses are related to RNA viruses and belong to the family Orthomyxoviridae. Virus antigenic variations are called antigenic drift or minor changes and antigenic shift or widespread changes. The large pandemic of influenza is usually caused by virus antigenic shift. A new form of the influenza virus is called influenza virus A (H1N1). Objectives: The purpose of our study was to investigation of the relationship between demographic characteristics and frequency of mortality in certain cases of influenza A (H1N1) from the Yazd Province of Iran. Materials and Methods: We referred to a health center of the Yazd province to collect characteristics and information related to patients during years2008 – 2009. This study was descriptive and analytical. Out of 1442 patients suspected of influenza during the study period, 253 throat samples had positive with RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction) results, which were confirmed for viruses. After obtaining the names and contact numbers of these patients, their information and data were recorded in the Excel program and then were analyzed using the SPSS software and chi-square statistical method. Results: Out of 253 cases confirmed for influenza A (H1N1), 9 women and 11men had died. Amongst these cases the minimum and maximum age was3.5 and90 years, respectively. Also, from the 20 confirmed cases of influenza A (H1N1) that had died, 16 cases had at least one underlying disease. Conclusions: There was no significant association between mortality of confirmed cases of influenza A (H1N1) and sex, but the results demonstrated that mortality may be associated with age and underlying diseases.