West Nile Virus Disease: A Descriptive Study of 228 Patients Hospitalized in a 4-County Region of Colorado in 2003

Abstract

Persons with diabetes and a reported history of alcohol abuse and older persons appear to be at increased risk of developing WNE. Patients with WNE who have a history of stroke, who require mechanical ventilation, or who are immunosuppressed appear to be more likely to die. Respiratory failure, limb weakness, and arrhythmia occurred in all 3 categories, but there were significantly more cases of all in the WNE group.