Prevalence of RSV bronchiolitis in hospitalized infants in U.S. increased in recent years

Among U.S. infants hospitalized with respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis, the overall prevalence, presence of complex chronic conditions and invasive mechanical ventilation use increased from 1997 to 2016, researchers reported.

During the same period, mortality decreased in this patient population.

“Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause of bronchiolitis in infancy,” Daniel Torres Arias, MD, pediatric ICU fellow at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Coral Terrace, Florida, said during a presentation at the Society of Critical Care Medicine Congress. “Although most infections run a mild course, a significant number of patients require hospitalization and some form of respiratory support.”

The researchers performed a retrospective analysis of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Kids’ Inpatient Database from 1997 to 2016. .

Among 7,544,391 hospital discharges during the study period, 5.5% during infancy were representative of RSV bronchiolitis. Most were male (58%) and white (47.5%). Most hospital discharges occurred from January to March (62%) and fewer discharges occurred from July to September (2.2%).

Invasive mechanical ventilation use was 2.5% in 1997 and increased to 5% in 2016 (P < .001). Associated complex chronic conditions were present in 3.7% of patients in 1997 compared with 7.5% of patients in 2016 (P < .001).

However, mortality rates decreased in infants with RSV from 0.12% in 1997 to 0.06% in 2016 (P < .05).

Compared with infants with complex chronic conditions, researchers observed less invasive mechanical ventilation use in children with RSV bronchiolitis (20.1% vs. 3.2%; OR = 9.8; 95% CI, 9.4-10.2; P < .001). In addition, researchers observed higher mortality rates among infants with RSV bronchiolitis and complex chronic conditions compared with those without complex chronic conditions (1.57% vs. 0.03%; OR = 51.4; 95% CI, 41.4-63.8; P < .001). Invasive mechanical ventilation use increased while the mortality decreased among infants with RSV bronchiolitis and complex chronic conditions (P < .05).

Reference:

• Torres D, et al. Crit Care Med. 2022;doi:10.1097/01.ccm.0000806672.21990.ed.