Hospitalized patients with RSV infections are at higher risk of mortality, finds study

A new study published in the journal of Open Forum Infectious Diseases showed that older adults hospitalized with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections have a higher risk of dying within 90 days of admission than patients admitted with influenza B, but comparable to those admitted with influenza A.

Adults who have severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) have been linked to respiratory syncytial virus in recent years. Adults with underlying comorbidities such as immunodeficiency and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are more susceptible to severe RSV infection, which increases the risk of adverse outcomes and a worsening of the condition. Adults with RSV can experience mild cold-like symptoms all the way up to severe respiratory distress. According to recent research conducted in the USA and Israel, hospitalizations associated to RSV are less common than influenza, but the severity of RSV infection is on par with or even higher than influenza. This study was to compare the clinical features and symptoms of individuals hospitalized with RSV to those hospitalized with influenza A or B. Also, to compare the illness severity and fatality rates of RSV and influenza A and B patients. And lastly to determine the risk factors for death in RSV and influenza A and B patients.

After controlling for covariates, this multicenter observational cohort study examined the clinical symptoms, mortality risk factors and correlation with 90-day mortality by logistic regression analysis among persons hospitalized with RSV or influenza A or B between March 2016 and April 2020. Out of the 988 patients that were admitted to the hospital, 353 had RSV, 288 had influenza B and 347 had influenza A. Patients with RSV were more likely to have pneumonia and comorbidities when compared to influenza A and B. RSV infection was linked, relative to influenza B infection but not influenza A infection, to a higher all-cause mortality within 90 days after covariate correction. In patients with RSV, becoming older and having pneumonia at the time were found to be independent risk factors for death. Overall, RSV-induced acute respiratory infections cause considerable morbidity and death in older persons.

Source:

Clausen, C. L., Egeskov-Cavling, A. M., Hayder, N., Sejdic, A., Roed, C., Gitz Holler, J., Nielsen, L., Eiberg, M. F., Rezahosseini, O., Østergaard, C., Barrella Harboe, Z., K Fischer, T., Benfield, T., & Lindegaard, B. (2024). Clinical manifestations and outcomes in adults hospitalized with respiratory syncytial virus and influenza A/B: A multicenter observational cohort study. In Open Forum Infectious Diseases. Oxford University Press (OUP). https://doi.org/10.1093/ofid/ofae513