During influenza (or flu) season, some people already know whether or not they will be part of the flu statistics. This happens because there are risk factors that can predispose certain groups to suffer or not from seasonal influenza. Approximately 8% of the U.S. population has risk factors that make them more likely to catch the flu, and are affected year after year. These numbers can fluctuate between 3 and 11% depending on the year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Many cases are cured within a couple of days. However, millions of people with seasonal influenza end up visiting healthcare providers; tens of thousands are hospitalized; and a smaller but significant number of people die from it. Each year, the CDC collects relevant data from networks of state and local health departments that conduct population-based surveillance across the country. Using these numbers in mathematical models, the CDC creates preliminary estimates of the total number of influenza cases, as well as influenza-related medical visits, hospitalizations, and deaths. It is based on this collected data that an estimate of those factors that are most likely to lead to influenza can be determined.
In these cases, no matter how old or how healthy you are, anyone can get influenza. However, some people may be more likely to have complications from the flu. According to the CDC, while anyone who gets influenza can develop serious problems, certain age groups are at higher risk for complications. These include very young people (including children under 5—especially those under age 2), as well as people 65 years and older.
Between 50 and 70% of the reported cases of influenza are people over 65 years of age, mainly due to a weakened immune system as a result of aging. In addition, this age group is more likely to have diabetes, a disease that is also a risk factor for flu complications.
Other risk factors that are not related to age are some health conditions, such as diabetes, that can lead to complications.; for example, blood, endocrine, liver and metabolic disorders such as sickle cell anemia. Furthermore, chronic lung diseases, kidney disease, asthma, history of stroke or heart disease, and neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions can also lead to complications from the flu.
It is also important to take into account that the following factors could lead to flu complications:
- Having a Body Mass Index (BMI) higher than 40.
- Long-term use of medications containing aspirin or salicylates.
- Being in an immunocompromised state due to disease (such as HIV or some types of cancer) or certain types of medical treatment (such as chemotherapy, radiation or chronic use of corticosteroids).
Other factors that may put people at higher risk for serious complications include being pregnant or 2-weeks postpartum, or living in a nursing home or other long-term care facility.
Recent research suggests that flu complications also tend to increase in people of certain racial or ethnic groups such as African Americans, American Indians, Alaskan Natives, and Hispanics/Latinos. Serious outcomes from influenza, including illness-associated hospitalization, ICU admission, and hospital death, have been shown to generally occur at higher rates in these individuals compared to non-Hispanic whites.
Doctors repeatedly recommend that, to reduce the danger of flu complications, it is necessary to get vaccinated at least once a year. You can find more information on vaccines and which one is right for you at flu.com.
Sources:
https://www.flu.com/Articles/2022/How-Flu-Creates-a-Burden-on-Society
https://www.flu.com/Articles/2022/Why-Does-Flu-Affect-Some-People-More-Than-Others
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