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To learn more about characteristics, complications, and outcomes of adults with severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection, researchers retrospectively studied 607 such patients who were admitted to public hospitals in Hong Kong from 2009 to 2011.
Chronic lung disease (adjusted odds ratio, 3.5) and pneumonia (OR, 1.8) were independent predictors of respiratory failure requiring ventilatory support. Variables associated with death included ventilator support (adjusted hazard ratio, 6.2), age >75 years (HR, 2.9), pneumonia (HR, 2.8), and bacterial superinfection (HR, 2.0). Patients receiving systemic corticosteroids had higher bacterial superinfection rates (4% vs. 1%) and 33% longer hospital stays than their counterparts.
Comparison wi…