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BackgroundPatients with asthma are at risk of hospitalisation with influenza, but the reasons for this predisposition are unknown.Study settingA prospective observational study of adults with PCR-confirmed influenza in 11 UK hospitals, measuring nasal, nasopharyngeal and systemic immune mediators and whole-blood gene expression.ResultsOf 133 admissions, 40 (30%) had previous asthma; these were more often female (70% versus 38.7%, OR 3.69, 95% CI 1.67–8.18; p=0.0012), required less mechanical ventilation (15% versus 37.6%, Chi-squared 6.78; p=0.0338) and had shorter hospital stays (mean 8.3 versus 15.3 days, p=0.0333) than those without. In patients without asthma, severe outcomes were more frequent in those given corticosteroids (OR 2.63, 95% CI 1.02–6.96; p=0.0466) or presenting >4 days after disease onset (OR 5.49, 95% CI 2.28–14.03; p=0.0002). Influenza vaccination in at-risk groups (including asthma) were lower than intended by national policy and the early use of antiviral medications were less than optimal. Mucosal immune responses were equivalent between groups. Those with asthma had higher serum interferon (IFN)-α, but lower serum tumour necrosis factor, interleukin (IL)-5, IL-6, CXCL8, CXCL9, IL-10, IL-17 and CCL2 levels (all p<0.05); both groups had similar serum IL-13, total IgE, periostin and blood eosinophil gene expression levels. Asthma diagnosis was unrelated to viral load, IFN-α, IFN-γ, IL-5 or IL-13 levels.ConclusionsAsthma is common in those hospitalised with influenza, but may not represent classical type 2-driven disease. Those admitted with influenza tend to be female with mild serum inflammatory responses, increased serum IFN-α levels and good clinical outcomes.

Original publication

DOI

10.1183/13993003.00949-2019

Type

Journal article

Journal

European Respiratory Journal

Publisher

European Respiratory Society (ERS)

Publication Date

10/2019

Volume

54

Pages

1900949 - 1900949