Swine Flu is more of a threat to the obese population

Whilst we aren’t ones for jumping on bandwagons, we have noticed that the media is really going to town with obesity and swine flu stories at the minute and have thought it appropriate to hit you with a double whammy. Only kidding, but it is only right we bring your attention to some startling findings.

Experts in the US have begun to identify a number of worrying trends amongst the mountains of data surrounding Swine flu. They have found that people who are severely overweight are far more likely to suffer with severe symptoms. They have also found that their conditions are likely to deteriorate more rapidly. Health bodies have begun to observe a pattern in records from hospitals around the world. An astounding proportion of sufferers with a BMI exceeding 40 have been reported to have suffered serious respiratory difficulties that were often very complex to treat. Other cases even proved to be fatal.

Although findings are still to be concluded in the UK, 3 out of 5 people who underwent treatment in the US for the new swine flu strain in intensive care were seriously overweight. According to Bloomberg news, experts have expressed the opinion that patients with excess weight are far more likely to experience complications if diagnosed with swine flu.

These findings were backed by a further report published in Michigan, highlighting that in every 10 severe cases of swine flu, 9 had been obese or seriously obese. In addition to this, 5 of these patients developed blood clots in their lungs, and six actually suffered kidney failure. These complications had been seen in swine flu patients before, but never in such numbers. If the H1N1 virus truly does begin to coincide with our Obesity epidemic, than we seriously need to consider whether larger patients require stronger doses. The World Health Organisation is currently working with the global drug makers; Roche Holding AG to do just that.

Health organisations worldwide have already underlined a prominent link between people suffering with underlying conditions and the increased chance of contracting HI1N1, which is extremely worrying given that obese patients run a greater risk of contracting diabetes, heart conditions, and cardio vascular disease. It is safe to say that those of us in the UK are right to be worried about these findings; particularly as the number of people requiring complex surgery for weight conditions has risen here by over 40% with 5,000 people requiring treatment every year.