Respiratory failure is the commonest cause of death in diabetic patients with swine flu.

摘要

There is no doubt that morbidity and mortality are increased in individuals with diabetes mellitus who develop swine flu [1]. However, the cause of death remains unclear. Data from the official report of nine deaths from swine flu in individuals with diabetes mellitus in Thailand (31 July 2009) indicate that the main cause of death in all cases was respiratory failure. This is similar to the cause of death in classical influenza in patients with diabetes mellitus. Superimposed infection or other organ failure was not the main cause of death. In non-diabetic individuals (56 cases), respiratory problems were the cause of death in all except two cases. One death was due to air embolism and the other to multiple organ failure as a result of bacterial co-infection.