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Obese People Have More Flu Complications

In H1N1 patients, fat had same effects as diabetes, heart disease

By Katherine Thompson,  Newser Staff

Posted May 20, 2009 8:42 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Scientists at the CDC have noticed a new trend in cases of swine flu: "We were surprised by the frequency of obesity among the severe cases that we've been tracking," says an epidemiologist, adding that it might be cause to make obese people a priority for a vaccine, if it becomes available. Other pre-existing conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes, are known to raise the risk of flu complications, but this one has doctors a bit surprised.

Pregnancy can increase the severity of a case of flu because the woman's growing uterus pushes on her lungs, making it harder to breathe and cough. A similar thing could be happening in obese people. Two third of the H1N1 patients in California had some underlying condition that could have contributed to their flu: 11 out of 30 had lung problems.

Graphic shows US swine flu cases by state.
Graphic shows US swine flu cases by state.
Luciana Alvarez waits for her ride at Los Angeles International Airport Monday, April 27, 2009, after she arrived from Mexico wearing a face mask to protect herself from swine flu.
Luciana Alvarez waits for her ride at Los Angeles International Airport Monday, April 27, 2009, after she arrived from Mexico wearing a face mask to protect herself from swine flu.   (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
A health worker wears a mask as a precaution against swine flu as he helps transfer a patient to Thorax hospital in Santiago, Monday, May 18, 2009.
A health worker wears a mask as a precaution against swine flu as he helps transfer a patient to Thorax hospital in Santiago, Monday, May 18, 2009.   (AP Photo/Roberto Candia)
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obesity • pregnancy • California • diabetes • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention • heart disease • epidemiology • swine flu • H1N1 virus

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