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. 2012 Sep;6(5):313-7.
doi: 10.1111/j.1750-2659.2011.00318.x. Epub 2011 Dec 8.

Is abdominal obesity associated with the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) pandemic in Korean school-aged children?

Choon Ok Kim  1 , Chung Mo Nam, Duk-Chul Lee, Joon Chang, Ji Won Lee
Affiliations

Is abdominal obesity associated with the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) pandemic in Korean school-aged children?

Choon Ok Kim et al. Influenza Other Respir Viruses. 2012 Sep.

Abstract

Objective: Given their medical vulnerabilities, we investigated the epidemiological factors related to H1N1 infection in school-aged children.

Methods: This study analyzed data collected on 7448 school-aged children in South Korea between 18 November and 8 December 2009.

Results: We found that H1N1 infection was associated with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), the use of facemasks, contact history with H1N1-infected persons, and overseas travel history (P < 0·05). In addition, WC quartiles were significantly associated with H1N1 infection after adjusting for BMI and other confounding variables [OR (95% CI): 1·00, 1·10 (0·72-1·45), 1·13 (0·76-1·67), and 2·71 (1·74-4·24), respectively).

Conclusions: Abdominal obesity and the use of facemasks appear to be independently associated with H1N1 infection in school-aged children. We infer that providing education on wearing facemasks and specific planning for abdominally obese children and adolescents may be effective means of reducing the spread of the influenza pandemic in school-aged children.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Study diagram for the association of epidemiologic variables with H1N1 infection in school‐aged children. The data were collected from Seodaemun‐gu district students (7–18 years old), Seoul, South Korea between 18 November and 8 December 2009, prior to the initiation of the vaccination program against H1N1.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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