Prognostic factors for mortality in patients hospitalized with influenza complications, in Taiwan

Background: This study aims to assess factors associated with fatal hospitalized influenza with complications in Taiwan. Methods: We identified reports of complications and illness onset in patients hospitalized with influenza between week 26, 2009 and week 25, 2012 from the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System. We used a multivariate logistic regression model to evaluate covariates that can be associated with in-hospital mortality. Results: Among 4735 patients (413 deaths), age >= 50 years (p<0.001), male (p=0.014), comorbidities (p<0.001), and delayed oseltamivir treatment (p<0.001) increased the likelihood of in-hospital mortality. Conclusions: We recommend influenza vaccination and early antiviral treatment for at-risk populations.