School age outcome of hospitalisation with respiratory syncytial virus infection of prematurely born infants

Thorax. 2009 Jun;64(6):490-5. doi: 10.1136/thx.2008.095547. Epub 2009 Feb 12.

Abstract

Background: Hospitalisation due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in the first 2 years after birth has been associated with increased healthcare utilisation and associated costs up to 5 years of age in children born prematurely at less than 32 weeks of gestation who developed bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). A study was undertaken to determine whether hospitalisation due to RSV infection in the first 2 years was associated with increased morbidity and lung function abnormalities in such children at school age, and if any effects were influenced by age.

Methods: Healthcare utilisation and cost of care in years 5-7 were reviewed in 147 children and changes in healthcare utilisation between 0 and 8 years were assessed also using results from two previous studies. At age 8-10 years, 77 children had their lung function assessed and bronchial hyper-responsiveness determined.

Results: Children hospitalised with RSV infection (n = 25) in the first 2 years had a greater cost of care related to outpatient attendance than those with a non-respiratory or no admission (n = 72) when aged 5-7 years (p = 0.008). At 8-10 years of age, children hospitalised with RSV infection (n = 14) had lower forced expiratory volume in 0.75 s (FEV(0.75)) (p = 0.015), FEV(0.75)/forced vital capacity (p = 0.027) and flows at 50% (p = 0.034) and 75% (p = 0.006) of vital capacity than children hospitalised for non-RSV causes (n = 63). Healthcare utilisation decreased with increasing age regardless of RSV hospitalisation status.

Conclusions: In prematurely born children who had BPD, hospitalisation due to RSV infection in the first 2 years is associated with reduced airway calibre at school age.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / economics
  • Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / physiopathology
  • Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / virology*
  • Delivery of Health Care / statistics & numerical data
  • England
  • Health Care Costs / statistics & numerical data
  • Hospitalization
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Premature
  • Infant, Premature, Diseases / economics
  • Infant, Premature, Diseases / physiopathology*
  • Lung / physiopathology
  • Prognosis
  • Quality of Life
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / complications*
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / economics
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / physiopathology