Table 2. Baseline characteristics of hospitalized acute Q fever patients from 2007 to 2009 (n = 183) compared with the general Dutch population in the region and nationwide.

	Hospitalized acute Q fever patients (n = 183)	Prevalence (%) in the study area (MHS Hart voor Brabant)a	Prevalence (%) in the Netherlandsa
	n (%)	%	%
Male	114 (62.3)
Median age at admission [IQR] (years)	54 [41–65]
Current smoker	82 (47.1)b	26.4	26.3
History of smoking	38 (22.8)c
Median duration of admission [IQR] (days)	5 3–7
Median duration between onset of illness and admission [IQR] (days)d	4 3–7
Medical history
COPD/asthma	29 (15.8)	7.8	7.7
Heart failure	21 (11.5)		0.7e
Diabetes mellitus type I	2 (1.1)	0.8	0.9
Diabetes mellitus type II	17 (9.3)	3.4	3.4
Malignancy	14 (7.7)		3.2f
Heart valve insufficiency	12 (6.6)
Aortic aneurysm	10 (5.5)
Vascular prosthesis	9 (4.9)
Autoimmune disease	9 (4.9)
CVA	7 (3.8)	3.3	2.4
Heart valve prosthesis	5 (2.7)
Chronic renal failure	5 (2.7)
Liver disease	4 (2.2)
No underlying condition	109 (59.0)

COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; CVA: cerebrovascular accident; IQR: interquartile range; MHS: Municipal Health Service.

^aUnless otherwise indicated, data extracted from Statistics Netherlands (CBS), 2008–2011: http://statline.cbs.nl/statweb/(website accessed 2013 July 30) [27].

^bInformation missing for nine cases.

^cInformation missing for 18 cases.

^dInformation missing for three cases.

^ePrevalence in 2007, data extracted from National Public Health Compass: http://www.nationaalkompas.nl/gezondheid-en-ziekte/ziekten-en-aandoeningen/hartvaatstelsel/hartfalen/cijfers-hartfalen-prevalentie-incidentie-en-sterfte-uit-de-vtv-2010/(website accessed 2013 July 30) [26].

^f20-years prevalence in 2009, data extracted from Comprehensive Cancer Centre the Netherlands (IKNL): http://www.cijfersoverkanker.nl/(website accessed 2013 July 30) [25].