Journal article
The Increased Risk for Post-influenza Pneumonia Among Cystic Fibrosis Carriers – A Population-Based Study
Open forum infectious diseases, Vol.12(11), ofaf642
11/2025
DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofaf642
PMCID: PMC12575080
PMID: 41180002
Abstract
Background
Influenza is strongly associated with an increased risk for subsequent bacterial pneumonia. Moreover, cystic fibrosis (CF) carriers are at increased risk for some pulmonary infections. The purpose of this study was to determine whether CF carriers are at greater risk for postinfluenza pneumonia than noncarriers.
Methods
Using MarketScan insurance claims data (2001–2023), we identified a study cohort of 38 047 CF carriers and a cohort of 380 470 matched controls. We conducted 2 analyses using these cohorts. First, we assessed individual-level risk for experiencing pneumonia following an influenza infection. Second, because many cases of influenza often do not result in medical visits, we conducted a cohort-level analysis comparing the weekly incidence of pneumonia between CF carriers and noncarriers while accounting for weekly Centers for Disease Control and Prevention–reported influenzalike illnesses across multiple influenza seasons.
Results
At an individual level, we found that the odds of developing pneumonia following a diagnosis of influenza were approximately 34% greater among CF carriers compared with noncarriers. Second, we found that while the incidence of influenza is not elevated among CF carriers, the incidence rate of pneumonia was about 55% greater among CF carriers compared with our control population.
Conclusions
Because 2%–11% of the population acquires influenza each year, and because there are >10–15 million CF carriers in the United States alone, a substantial number of cases of secondary pneumonia may be attributable to the CF carrier state.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The Increased Risk for Post-influenza Pneumonia Among Cystic Fibrosis Carriers – A Population-Based Study
- Creators
- Aaron C Miller - University of IowaDaniel E Boonstra - University of IowaJoe E CavanaughMahmoud H Abou AlaiwaAlejandro P Comellas - University of IowaDouglas B Hornick - University of IowaDavid A Stoltz - University of IowaPhilip M Polgreen - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Open forum infectious diseases, Vol.12(11), ofaf642
- DOI
- 10.1093/ofid/ofaf642
- PMID
- 41180002
- PMCID
- PMC12575080
- NLM abbreviation
- Open Forum Infect Dis
- ISSN
- 2328-8957
- eISSN
- 2328-8957
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Grant note
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases: grant R01AI143671 National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences: grant UM1TR004403
Author contributions . Concept and funding acquisition: P. M. P. Data curation: A. C. M. Formal analysis: A. C. M. and D. E. B. Supervision: J. E. C. Interpretation: M. H. A. A., A. P. C., D. B. H., D. A. S., and P. M. P. Writing of the first draft: A. C. M. and P. M. P. Editing and reviewing: All authors.
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 10/23/2025
- Date published
- 11/2025
- Academic Unit
- Statistics and Actuarial Science; Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering; Molecular Physiology and Biophysics; Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Occupational Medicine; Infectious Diseases; ICTS; Epidemiology; Biostatistics; Injury Prevention Research Center; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9985019151702771
Metrics
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