A review of disease surveillance records by Massachusetts health authorities has found asthma is the one chronic condition that is far more common than any other among patients hospitalized with H1N1 infections. Asthma was present in 31% of swine flu patients who entered Massachusetts hospitals already suffering from longstanding health problems. By comparison, 6% of those swine flu patients had heart problems, and 6% had kidney disease. The findings led specialists to reinforce their admonition that patients with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and other respiratory conditions should be vaccinated against H1N1 as well as the seasonal strain, the Boston Globe reports.
