Maintenance Immunosuppression Is Associated with Better Outcome in the 2017/2018 Influenza Epidemic

Abstract

Background: The impact of immunosuppression on outcomes in influenza is insufficiently understood. We analyzed the morbidity and mortality of immunocompetent (IC) vs immunosuppressed (IS) patients with influenza A and B in the 2017/2018 season. Methods: Patients with proven influenza in a German tertiary care hospital were analyzed for hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and mortality. Causes for IS were organ and bone marrow transplantation, AIDS, chemotherapy, and medical immunosuppression. Results: In total, 227 patients were included in this analysis (IC, n = 118 [52%]; IS, n = 109 [48%]). Hospitalization (71% vs 91%; P