Archives of Hellenic Medicine

Last update:

19-Sep-2022

Arch Hellen Med, 39(5),September-October 2022, 637-646

ORGINIAL PAPER

The epidemiology of hospitalization for acute bronchiolitis in a tertiary medical center

E. Christou,¹ I. Anagnostaki,² A. Pouliakis,³ K. Douros,⁴ D. Ddlis,¹ K. Priftis⁴
¹First Department of Pediatrics, "Panagiotis and Aglaia Kyriakou" General Children's Hospital, Athens,
²Second Department of Pediatrics, "Panagiotis and Aglaia Kyriakou" General Children's Hospital, Athens,
³Second Department of Pathology, "Attikon" University General Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens,
⁴Unit of Allergology and Pulmonology, Third Department of Pediatrics, "Attikon" University General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece

OBJECTIVE Τo examine the epidemiology of acute bronchiolitis (AB) in hospitalized infants, the differences between infants with and without respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) AB, and the possible risk factors for the severe form of the disease.

METHOD We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional analysis by reviewing the medical records of patients that were hospitalized for AB in the period 2012–2020 in the First Department of Pediatrics of "Panagiotis and Aglaia Kyriakou" General Children's Hospital of Athens. The patients were classified in two groups; the first group included infants with RSV infection and the second infants with AB due to other respiratory viruses.

RESULTS The medical records of 519 patients were reviewed and 28 patients were excluded for various reasons, leaving a total study population of 491 patients. The patients with RSV AB were more likely to present probable severe bacterial infection that required antibiotic treatment; they had lower mean of white blood cell count (WBC), developed fever more frequently, received more adrenaline and hypertonic saline inhalations and more IV fluids, and they presented with lower weight, age and oxygen saturation on admission. They also recorded a longer duration of hospitalization, especially those that were admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), and received oxygen for longer periods of time. The severity of the disease was assessed according to the need for admission to PICU, the need for supplemental oxygen and prolongation of hospitalization. Multivariate regression analysis showed no variable with negative prognostic value for the three parameters.

CONCLUSIONS The patients with RSV ΑΒ presented more severe disease than the patients with AB from other respiratory viruses. Increased compliance with the international and national guidelines, in terms of diagnosis and treatment of AB, is required, aimed at minimum interventions in patients and optimal outcome.

Key words: Acute bronchiolitis, Respiratory system, RSV infection.