The lack of solid scientific knowledge regarding COVID-19 has led everyone from the general population to seasoned veterans of the medical field to draw comparisons to pathogens we do have significant data about. This natural tendency to compare something new to something established is human nature, and the pathogen of choice in this case is often seasonal influenza.

The similarities are numerous, making it an easy comparison to make. Both affect the respiratory system, are transferred in similar ways, and are caused by a virus. However, similarities do not necessarily equate to a fair comparison. To examine this comparison and evaluate its validity, researchers recently conducted a retrospective study involving the two illnesses.

The Study

Using data from the French national administrative database, a nationwide retrospective cohort study was conducted. COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized between March 1, 2020, and April 30, 2020, were included in the study. Similarly, seasonal influenza patients hospitalized between December 1, 2018, and February 28, 2019, were included.

Using this data, risk factors were considered, clinical characteristics were compared, and outcomes were measured. The age groups of the patients were also included in the study.

Findings

Nearly double the number of COVID-19 patients was included in the study compared to those with influenza (89,530 compared to 45,918). Of these, the median age was 68 and 71, respectively. Hospitalized COVID-19 patients had risk factors of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia more frequently, while influenza patients were more likely to have chronic respiratory disease, cirrhosis, deficiency anemia, and heart failure.

The outcomes of the two groups also varied. For example, COVID-19 patients developed acute respiratory failure, hemorrhagic stroke, pulmonary embolism, and septic shock more frequently. Contrarily, influenza patients were more likely to develop atrial fibrillation or myocardial infarction.

In regard to mortality, rates were higher among COVID-19 patients than influenza patients. This was true throughout all age spectrums, though more pediatric patients were hospitalized with influenza than COVID-19.

What it Means

According to this study, COVID-19 is more likely than influenza to lead to respiratory complications and mortality. It is important to note that these results featured low patient numbers for certain age groups, especially children, which means the results should be tested further in future studies. It is also important to note that the patients hospitalized had a higher frequency of risk factors, especially obesity, which may or may not have contributed to the measured outcomes.

Regardless, it is important that preventative measures be taken on a personal level to limit COVID-19 exposure and reduce the risk factors associated with severe cases. The development of more effective treatments and proper vaccines for COVID-19 is also paramount.