Yonsei Med J.  2014 Mar;55(2):422-427.

The Impact of Lifestyle Behaviors on the Acquisition of Pandemic (H1N1) Influenza Infection: A Case-Control Study

• Choi SM
• Jeong YJ
• Park JS
• Kang HJ
• Lee YJ
• Park SS
• Lim HJ
• Chung HS
• Lee CH

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of lifestyle behaviors and health habits on the risk for acquiring pandemic influenza (H1N1) virus infection.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We conducted a case-control study in a secondary care hospital in South Korea between November 2009 and August 2010. We enrolled patients with H1N1 infection, as confirmed by a positive result of the real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assay; for each patient, we enrolled 4 age- and gender-matched controls with no history of H1N1 infection or severe acute respiratory illness during the H1N1 pandemic in South Korea (1:4 match).
RESULTS
During the study period, 33 cases and 132 age- and gender-matched controls were enrolled. The case group had a higher percentage of current smokers (p<0.01), fewer subjects reporting regular physical activity (p=0.03), or regular vitamin supplementation (p<0.01), and more subjects reporting a higher annual incidence of the common cold (p=0.048) as compared to the control group. In the multivariable analysis, 2 factors were independently associated with the acquisition of H1N1 infection: current smoking [adjusted odds ratio (OR)=5.53; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.60-19.16; p<0.01] and a higher annual incidence of the common cold (adjusted OR=1.24; 95% CI, 1.002-1.53; p=0.048).
CONCLUSION
A current smoking status and a history of frequent colds were associated with an increased risk of acquiring H1N1 infection.

Keyword

Influenza A virus; H1N1 subtype; life style; smoking

MeSH Terms

Case-Control Studies*
Common Cold
Confidence Intervals
Humans
Incidence
Influenza A virus
Influenza, Human*
Life Style*
Methods
Motor Activity
Odds Ratio
Pandemics*
Republic of Korea
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
Secondary Care
Smoke
Smoking
Viruses
Vitamins
Smoke
Vitamins

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