While the hype over H1N1 certainly seemed to outstrip the risk last season, it appears people with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or higher are at a much higher risk of death from the illness, widely dubbed “swine flu” in early media reports.

According to a study of inpatient data by the California Department of Public Health in Richmond, patients classed as morbidly obese were three times more likely to die from H1N1, and those with a BMI of 45 or higher were at an even higher risk of death from the illness. The study was ultimately narrowed down to just over 530 patients in an available pool of over 1,000:

The researchers found that 51 percent of those patients were obese, with a body mass index greater than 30, and 19 percent had a body mass index of 40 or higher.

In total, 92 patients died, and of those 56 (or 61 percent) were obese, including 28 (or 30 percent) with a body mass index of 40 or higher. In the latter group, 21 had a body mass index of 45 or greater, [Dr. Janice] Louis and colleagues found.

The study isolates obesity, specifically not co-morbid conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure, as an independent risk factor for death. Authors of the study urge proactive and “aggressive” treatment in the circumstances cited.

Morbidly obese three times as likely to die of H1N1, or ‘swine flu’ is a post from: The Inquisitr

Although Malaria isn’t that common on the NYC Subway, the mortality rate for H1N1/Swine Flu is about 1 death per 1000 cases.

[via GraphJam]

Relative dangers of Swine Flu/H1N1 is a post from: The Inquisitr