Dataset Information

Influenza in obese travellers: increased risk and complications, decreased vaccine effectiveness.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Obesity is a worldwide epidemic and was empirically shown to increase the risk of developing severe influenza virus infection. As international travel becomes more common and obesity is now prevalent even in low- and middle-income countries, travellers may have an increased risk of contracting influenza virus especially during peak influenza season. METHODS:An analysis of the literature, centred on publications from 2014-19, was performed, with an emphasis on human epidemiological data, human studies ex vivo and studies in mouse models of obesity. Our search efforts focused on influenza disease severity, pathogenesis, evolutionary dynamics and measures of infection control in the obese and overweight host. RESULTS:Obesity is associated with an increased risk of infection, as well as a greater chance for hospitalization and severe complications. Studies in mouse models of obesity have uncovered that obese hosts suffer increased viral spread, delayed viral clearance and heightened damage to the respiratory epithelium. Innate and adaptive immune responses are delayed, thus increasing morbidity and mortality. Further, infection control measures, including vaccination and antivirals, prove less effective in obese hosts. Finally, the obese microenvironment allows for increased duration and amount of viral shedding and potentially increases the chance for emergence of virulent minor variants in the viral population. Together, obese hosts are at high risk of influenza infection, as well as severe sequelae following infection. CONCLUSION:Obese travellers should be aware of influenza activity in the regions visited, as well as take protective measures prior to travel. Vaccination is highly recommended for all travellers, but especially highly susceptible obese travellers.

SUBMITTER: Honce R

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6509472 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Influenza in obese travellers: increased risk and complications, decreased vaccine effectiveness.

Honce Rebekah R Schultz-Cherry Stacey S

Journal of travel medicine 20190501 3

<h4>Background</h4>Obesity is a worldwide epidemic and was empirically shown to increase the risk of developing severe influenza virus infection. As international travel becomes more common and obesity is now prevalent even in low- and middle-income countries, travellers may have an increased risk of contracting influenza virus especially during peak influenza season.<h4>Methods</h4>An analysis of the literature, centred on publications from 2014-19, was performed, with an emphasis on human epid ...[more]

PMID: 30924873

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Project description:BackgroundInfluenza infects 5-15% of the global population each year, and obesity has been shown to be an independent risk factor for increased influenza-related complications including hospitalization and death. However, the risk of developing influenza or influenza-like illness (ILI) in a vaccinated obese adult population has not been addressed.ObjectiveThis study evaluated whether obesity was associated with increased risk of influenza and ILI among vaccinated adults.Subjects and methodsDuring the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 influenza seasons, we recruited 1042 subjects to a prospective observational study of trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV3) in adults. A total of 1022 subjects completed the study. Assessments of relative risk for laboratory confirmed influenza and ILI were determined based on body mass index. Seroconversion and seroprotection rates were determined using prevaccination and 26-35 days post vaccination serum samples. Recruitment criteria for this study were adults 18 years of age and older receiving the seasonal trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV3) for the years 2013-2014 and 2014-2015. Exclusion criteria were immunosuppressive diseases, use of immunomodulatory or immunosuppressive drugs, acute febrile illness, history of Guillain-Barre syndrome, use of theophylline preparations or use of warfarin.ResultsAmong obese, 9.8% had either confirmed influenza or influenza-like-illness compared with 5.1% of healthy weight participants. Compared with vaccinated healthy weight, obese participants had double the risk of developing influenza or ILI (relative risk=2.01, 95% CI 1.12, 3.60, P=0.020). Seroconversion or seroprotection rates were not different between healthy weight and obese adults with influenza or ILI.ConclusionsDespite robust serological responses, vaccinated obese adults are twice as likely to develop influenza and ILI compared with healthy weight adults. This finding challenges the current standard for correlates of protection, suggesting use of antibody titers to determine vaccine effectiveness in an obese population may provide misleading information.

Dataset Information

Influenza in obese travellers: increased risk and complications, decreased vaccine effectiveness.

Publications

Influenza in obese travellers: increased risk and complications, decreased vaccine effectiveness.

Similar Datasets

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