The Prevalence of Myocarditis and Skeletal Muscle Injury During Acute Viral Infection in Adults

Abstract

THE INFLUENZA pandemic of 1918 infected 50% of the world's population, resulting in the deaths of 40 million to 50 million people.¹ Seasonal influenza epidemics are associated with a 2-fold increase in deaths during winter, and mortality is especially high in groups at risk, such as those with cardiac disease.² The development of acute myocarditis during influenza infection is a well-recognized complication, and the clinical expression varies from asymptomatic to fulminant fatal congestive cardiac failure.³ Importantly, viral infection may also be the initial event that culminates in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy,⁴ which itself has major clinical and economic implications.