Key result
Recent influenza infection was detected in 24% of patients with pleural empyema compared to 7% of matched controls (p<0.001), supporting its pathogenic role in empyema development.
Why the study?
Pleural empyema causes a substantial healthcare burden, but 10-year trends in its incidence, management, and the potential impact of influenza required assessment.
Population
55 530 patients admitted to English hospitals with pleural empyema
Comparison
Pleural empyema vs seasonally matched controls with simple parapneumonic or cardiogenic effusions
Design
Retrospective database analysis with an additional prospective cohort study
Authors
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Rising empyema incidence temporally associated with influenza; hypothesis-generating and requires prospective confirmation before guiding prevention.
Observational (n=55,530)
Yes
Absolute Event Rate: 24% vs 7%
p-value: p=<0.001
Pleural empyema admissions in England have increased steadily over 10 years, with seasonal variations temporally related to influenza incidence, suggesting influenza may play a pathogenic role.
Arnold et al. (2020) conducted an observational in Pleural empyema (n=55,530). Recent influenza infection vs. Seasonally matched controls with simple parapneumonic or cardiogenic effusions was evaluated on Serological evidence of recent influenza infection (p=<0.001). Recent influenza infection was detected in 24% of patients with pleural empyema compared to 7% of matched controls (p<0.001), supporting its pathogenic role in empyema development.
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