The study is the
first to look at the benefits of early antiviral treatment on preventing the
need for extended care in community-dwelling flu-hospitalized people 65 and
older.
Because people 65 and older are at high risk
of serious flu complications, CDC recommends that they be treated for flu with
influenza antiviral medications as early as possible because these drugs work
best when started early. The study, published yesterday in the journalClinical
Infectious Diseases, supports this recommendation.
"Flu can be extremely serious in older
people, leading to hospitalization and in some cases long-term disability. This
important study shows that people 65 and older should seek medical care early
when they develop flu symptoms," says Dr. Dan Jernigan, director of
CDC's Influenza Division.
The study found that community-dwelling
patients 65 years and older who sought medical care or who were hospitalized
within two days of illness onset and who were treated with antiviral
medications early (in the first four days of illness) had hospital stays that were
substantially shorter than those who received treatment later (after 4 days of
illness onset).
This benefit was observed even among those who sought care
later (more than two days after they got sick), but the reduction in hospital
stay was not as great.
Similarly, early treatment was associated
with patients being 25 percent to 60 percent less likely to need extended care
after leaving the hospital.
The study authors suggest that the shorter hospital
stays associated with early treatment could account for the reduced risk of
needing extended care after discharge since lengthy bed restriction can lead to
disability.
Other factors like older age, the presence of neurologic disorders,
intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and pneumonia at admission were also independent
risk factors for extended care needs.
While flu seasons can vary in severity,
people 65 years and older usually bear the greatest burden of severe flu
disease.
In recent years, it is estimated that between 80 percent and 90
percent of seasonal flu-related deaths have been in people 65 years and older
and between 50 percent and 70 percent of seasonal flu-related hospitalizations
have been in people in that age group.
Antiviral treatment as soon as possible
is recommended for all hospitalized patients with suspected or confirmed flu
and for all patients at high risk of serious flu complications, including
people 65 years and older with flu-like symptoms.
The study used data collected during three
consecutive flu seasons (2010-2013) from more than 250 hospitals in 13 states
participating in the Influenza Hospitalization Network (FluSurv-NET).
The study
authors suggest that future research should investigate changes in functional
status and extended care needs following influenza hospitalization. This study
is available online from the Clinical Infectious Diseases website athttp://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2015/09/01/cid.civ733.
More information on flu antiviral drugs is available on the CDC flu
antivirals website.
CDC works 24/7 protecting America's health,
safety and security. Whether diseases start at home or abroad, are curable or
preventable, chronic or acute, stem from human error or deliberate attack, CDC
is committed to respond to America's most pressing health challenges.
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Americans stay healthier throughout their lives. Those enrolled in health
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how to connect to primary care and the preventive services that are right for
them, so that they can live a long and healthy life.
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