Immunocompromised children hospitalized with influenza received intensive care less frequently but had a longer hospitalization duration than nonimmunocompromised children, a new study found. Researchers analyzed data from the 2011-2012 through 2014-2015 influenza seasons and compared clinical features and outcomes between the immunocompromised and nonimmunocompromised children aged <18 years hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed community-acquired influenza. They found:

• Among 5,262 hospitalized children, 242 (4.6%) were immunocompromised; receipt of nonsteroidal immunosuppressive therapy, cancer, and solid organ transplantation were most common.
• Immunocompromised children were older, more likely to have comorbidity, and more likely to have received an influenza vaccination and early antiviral treatment.
• In multivariable analyses, immunocompromised children were less likely to receive intensive care and had a slightly longer duration of hospitalization.
• Death was uncommon in both groups.