Influenza Prevalence and Risk Factors: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Authors

Kiran Ganesh Balakrishnan, Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, MalaysiaFollow
Mohd Rizal Abd Manaf, Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, MalaysiaFollow
Mohd Rohaizat Hassan, Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, MalaysiaFollow
Mohd Kamarul Imran Musa, Department of Community Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan 15200, MalaysiaFollow
Azizul Rahman Mohamad Jamil, Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, MalaysiaFollow
Norhaslira Abdul Rahim, Klinik Kesihatan Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur 57000, MalaysiaFollow
Umi Kalsom Satariah Ali, Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, MalaysiaFollow
Rahman Jamal, Medical Molecular Biology Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, MalaysiaFollow

ORCID ID

Kiran Ganesh Balakrishnan : 0009-0004-6430-019X

Mohd Rizal Abd Manaf : 0000-0002-0813-8376

Mohd Rohaizat Hassan : 0000-0002-4658-6532

Mohd Kamarul Imran Musa : 0000-0002-3708-0628

Azizul Rahman Mohamad Jamil : 0009-0008-8414-8200

Norhaslira Abdul Rahim : 0009-0006-4688-9281

Umi Kalsom Satariah Ali : 0000-0002-4421-3724

Rahman Jamal : 0000-0002-8354-8957

Abstract

Background: Influenza infection can lead to mortality and morbidity. In densely populated Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the transmission of influenza-like illness (ILI) is high. This study assessed the prevalence and epidemiology of influenza in the target population.

Methods: A cross-sectional convenience sample study was conducted in government clinics of Cheras, Malaysia, from November 1, 2022, to February 28, 2023. Consent was sought from patients older than 18 years with symptoms of ILI (fever, cough, and onset within 10 days). A nasopharyngeal swab preceded an influenza rapid test. Logistic regression was used in SPSS 22.0 to evaluate the data.

Results: Among 438 patients, 55 (12.6%) tested positive for influenza type B, 9 (2%) tested positive for type A, and 374 (85.4%) were negative. Patients in the group that was 10 years older than the younger group had 1.47 times the odds of having influenza. The odds of positive influenza rose 1.133 times per unit of body mass index (BMI). Patients with chronic lung illness were 6.7 times (95% confidence interval, 2.742–16.287) more likely to test positive for influenza. Sex and smoking history did not affect the rate of influenza infection (p > 0.05).

Conclusions: An association was found between age, BMI, and chronic lung disease with influenza infection but not with sex or smoking.

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Recommended Citation

Balakrishnan K, Abd Manaf M, Hassan M, Musa M, Mohamad Jamil A, Abdul Rahim N, et al. Influenza Prevalence and Risk Factors: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study. Makara J Health Res. 2023;27.

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