Hospitalized Covid-19 patients with concurrent influenza are at greater risk of mechanical ventilation, according to a new Lancet study conducted in the UK between February 6, 2020 and December 8, 2021.¹

The study examined the outcomes of coinfections in patients with Covid-19. Out of the 305,000 hospitalized Covid patients, 6965 patients were tested for respiratory viral coinfections; 583 were found positive for viral coinfections like influenza (n= 227), respiratory syncytial virus (n=220) and adenoviruses (n= 136).

Compared to patients who just had Covid-19, those with influenza coinfection suffered significantly more severe outcomes; their need for invasive mechanical ventilation increased four times and mortality was also 2.4 times higher. The odds ratio for need for invasive mechanical ventilation and in-hospital mortality in adenovirus coinfection was 0.64 and 1.53, while for respiratory syncitial virus coinfection, the corresponding odds ratios were 0.78 and 0.60.

With the ongoing pandemic, respiratory coinfections are highly probable in patients with Covid-19, particularly in winters. Hence, the need for vaccination against both SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses. According to the authors, hospitalized Covid-19 patients who do not show expected response to immunomodulatory and antiviral treatment should be tested for influenza coinfection.

Reference

1. Russell CD, et al. SARS-CoV-2 co-infection with influenza viruses, respiratory syncytial virus, or adenoviruses. Lancet, March 25, 2022, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(22)00383-X.