RSV is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, and clinical characteristics impact the likelihood of RSV incidence and severe disease, according to results published in Respiratory Medicine. Pierachille Santus, MD, PhD, and colleagues assessed 717 consecutive patients referred to the ED with influenza-like symptoms and acute respiratory failure. Confirmed respiratory infections included RSV, influenza A, and SARS-CoV-2. Patients with RSV had the highest incidence of acute respiratory failure (62.7%) and severe disease (70.5%). When compared with patients with influenza A, patients with RSV were older (P=0.009), had higher Charlson index scores (P=0.001), experienced a higher prevalence of chronic heart failure (P=0.001), and more often received immunosuppressants (P=0.018). Factors predicting RSV infection included heart failure (OR, 3.286) and treatment with immunosuppressants (OR, 3.661). Factors predicting severe disease included glycemia level of 120 mg/dL or higher (OR, 5.839), a leukocyte count of 8,000 cells/μL or higher (OR, 5.929), and past or active smoking (OR, 7.347).
