Severe Health Outcomes in Adults with Respiratory Syncytial
Virus-associated Hospitalizations
Abstract
Background: A systematic assessment of severe clinical outcomes
associated with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections in adults
is lacking. Methods: Within a prospective surveillance study, we
performed a nested retrospective study during two respiratory viral
seasons, October 2017-April 2018 and October 2018-April 2019, to
determine the proportion of patients with laboratory-confirmed RSV
infection who experienced severe outcomes defined as intensive care unit
admission, mechanical ventilation, and/or death. We assessed factors
associated with these severe outcomes. We explored the impact of
RSV-associated hospitalizations on changes in the living situations of
surviving patients from admission to discharge. Results: Overall, 403
patients were studied (median age 69 years); 29.5% were >
80 years. Common comorbidities included cardiac (47.6%) and pulmonary
(45.9%) conditions and diabetes (41.4%). Severe outcomes occurred in
19.1% of patients including ICU admissions (16.4%), mechanical
ventilation (12.4%), and/or death (6.7%). Patients admitted from
residential living facilities had 4.43 times higher likelihood of severe
RSV infection compared to those living in the community with or without
assistance from family or home health aides. After discharge, 56
(15.1%) patients required an increased level of support including 36
(9.7%) with new admissions to residential living facilities.
Conclusions: RSV infection was associated with severe illness in adults.
Living in a facility was a risk factor for severe outcomes and likely a
surrogate for frailty at admission rather than an independent risk
factor. The need for an increased level of support after discharge will
add RSV-related healthcare costs to those already incurred from
hospitalization.