Introduction: Swine influenza is an acute, highly contagious respiratory disease that results from infection with type-A influenza virus (H1N1). It not only causes an immediate adverse morbidity and mortality but also has been reported to have adverse impact on long term health outcome. This study was planned to assess long term consequences of H1N1 in respect of long term exercise tolerance. Material: This was a cross sectional study conducted at tertiary care centre, Sixty patients were included, All diagnosed cases of influenza H1N1. Each patient was evaluated after around one year of illness by pulmonary function test (PFT) using standard protocol by single operator. Results: Out of Sixty patients Group 1 included 38 patients without any chest disease and non-smoker, group-2 included 13 patients with smoking habits ), and Group-3 included 9 patients with h/o asthma or with chest disease. Patient of group-1 (63.33%) were observed to have mild decrease in exercise capacity and mild restriction in PFT, Patients of group-2(21.66%) showed decrease in exercise capacity more than the patients of group-1 and mixed pattern in PFT, Patients of group-3(15%) showed marked decrease in exercise capacity as compared to pre illness exercise capacity and showed predominantly obstructive pattern in PFT, requirement of bronchodilator was significantly increased in group-3 patients. Conclusions: H1N1 infection is associated with significant long term respiratory morbidity. Exercise tolerance is significantly reduced as evident from symptoms profile, obstructive pattern in PFT and increased need of bronchodilator.

Introduction: Swine influenza is an acute, highly contagious respiratory disease that results from infection with type-A influenza virus (H1N1). It not only causes an immediate adverse morbidity and mortality but also has been reported to have adverse impact on long term health outcome. This study was planned to assess long term consequences of H1N1 in respect of long term exercise tolerance. Material: This was a cross sectional study conducted at tertiary care centre, Sixty patients were included, All diagnosed cases of influenza H1N1. Each patient was evaluated after around one year of illness by pulmonary function test (PFT) using standard protocol by single operator. Results: Out of Sixty patients Group 1 included 38 patients without any chest disease and non-smoker, group-2 included 13 patients with smoking habits ), and Group-3 included 9 patients with h/o asthma or with chest disease. Patient of group-1 (63.33%) were observed to have mild decrease in exercise capacity and mild restriction in PFT, Patients of group-2(21.66%) showed decrease in exercise capacity more than the patients of group-1 and mixed pattern in PFT, Patients of group-3(15%) showed marked decrease in exercise capacity as compared to pre illness exercise capacity and showed predominantly obstructive pattern in PFT, requirement of bronchodilator was significantly increased in group-3 patients. Conclusions: H1N1 infection is associated with significant long term respiratory morbidity. Exercise tolerance is significantly reduced as evident from symptoms profile, obstructive pattern in PFT and increased need of bronchodilator.