A study abroad found that patients with the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) and the flu were much more likely to develop severe disease or die compared to patients with only COVID-19.
According to News 1, the research team evaluated that “the results show the need to strengthen flu testing for COVID-19 patients in hospitals.”
A joint research team from the University of Edinburgh, the University of Liverpool, and Imperial College London in the UK found that adult hospitalized patients with both COVID-19 and the flu had a higher risk of serious illness or death than patients infected with COVID-19 or other viruses. reported on the 28th.
The research team investigated cases of co-infection with influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) or adenovirus among 212,466 adult COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the UK from February 2020 to December 2021.
As a result, it was found that 6965 COVID-19 patients were simultaneously infected with other respiratory viruses. Among them, 227 COVID-19 patients infected with the influenza virus showed much more severe symptoms. There were 220 COVID-19 patients infected with RSV, and 136 were co-infected with adenovirus.
Patients who were simultaneously infected with the COVID-19 virus and influenza virus were four times more likely to receive ventilator treatment and 2.4 times more likely to die than patients infected with COVID-19 alone.
The research team emphasized, “It is important to know that simultaneous infection occurs. A vaccine to prevent COVID-19 and the flu is needed.” He added, “Even if you are hospitalized following being diagnosed with a respiratory infection, it is important to get another virus test.”
“Understanding the consequences of double infection with COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses is important as it affects patient, hospital and intensive care unit capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic,” the research team said.
Kenneth Bailey, a professor at the University of Edinburgh in the UK, said: “The combination of COVID-19 and the flu virus was particularly dangerous. did.
Column Semple, a professor at the University of Liverpool in England, said: “I was surprised to find that the risk of death more than doubled when infected with both the flu and COVID-19.
The results of this study were published in the international scientific journal ‘The Lancet’ on the 25th (local time).
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