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Severe Obesity in Children May Not Pose Independent Risk for Influenza Complications

Vickie L Neyer1, Jessica G Woo2, Robert M Siegel2

  • 1Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, USA; Indiana Wesleyan University, USA.

Journal of Pediatric Nursing
|September 17, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Severe obesity in children does not independently increase influenza complication risk requiring hospitalization. Therefore, vaccination targeting should not be based solely on weight status in pediatric patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Influenza vaccination targets children with conditions increasing complication risk.
  • Severe obesity is defined as body mass index (BMI) ≥99% for age and gender.
  • Influenza complications include hospitalization or death.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if severe obesity in children is an independent risk factor for influenza complications.
  • To inform vaccination strategies for pediatric populations.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective chart review of 188 pediatric influenza complication cases (2 to <20 years old).
  • Cases were analyzed for severe obesity (BMI ≥99%) and pre-existing high-risk conditions.
  • Statistical analysis compared severe obesity status with influenza complications.

Main Results:

  • 93% of cases had a known high-risk condition; only 7% had no known condition.
  • All patients with severe obesity (BMI ≥99%) had a known high-risk condition.
  • Severe obesity was not a statistically significant independent risk factor for influenza complications (p=0.61).

Conclusions:

  • Severe obesity alone is not an independent high-risk condition for severe influenza complications in children.
  • Clinicians should not target children for influenza vaccination based solely on weight status.
  • Further research is needed on severe obesity and less severe influenza cases.
Abstract

Keywords:
AdolescentsChildrenComplicationsInfluenzaObesityVaccination

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