Clinical Findings of West Nile Virus Infection in Hospitalized Patients
Author Information
Author(s): Don Weiss, Darcy Carr, Jacqueline Kellachan, Christina Tan, Michael Phillips, Eddy Bresnitz, Marcelle Layton
Primary Institution: New York City Department of Health
Hypothesis
What are the clinical characteristics of hospitalized patients with West Nile virus infection in New York and New Jersey during 2000?
Conclusion
The study found that hospitalized cases of West Nile virus infection in 2000 were lower than in 1999, with a median age of 63 years and common symptoms including fever and neurological issues.
Supporting Evidence
- Eleven patients had encephalitis or meningoencephalitis, and eight had meningitis alone.
- Fever and neurologic symptoms were common among the patients.
- Patients >65 years of age had a longer median length of hospital stay than those <65 years.
Takeaway
This study looked at 19 people who got sick from the West Nile virus and found that older people were more likely to get very sick.
Methodology
Enhanced surveillance systems were established to report and test for West Nile virus in hospitalized patients, with data collected from medical records.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to incomplete medical records and the exclusion of non-hospitalized cases.
Limitations
The study only included hospitalized patients, which may not represent the full spectrum of West Nile virus infections, and data quality varied.
Participant Demographics
Patients were aged 36 to 87 years, with a median age of 63 years; 58% were male.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p=0.1
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