Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is an increasingly well-known cause of severe respiratory symptoms in adults. We aimed to describe characteristics, complications and in-hospital mortality of adults admitted to hospital with RSV-related respiratory symptoms.
Methods: Data were collected from electronic health records in the North Denmark Region for hospitalized adults diagnosed with RSV between April 1st - December 31st 2021. We collected data on characteristics, complications and mortality. Results were compared between immunocompromised and -competent patients.
Results: We included 111 patients. Sixty-five percent had comorbidities and 20 % received immunosuppressive drugs. Fifty-three percent had bacterial pneumonia and 61 % needed oxygen support. Mortality was 12 %. There were no differences in complications between the compared groups.
Conclusion: Severe respiratory symptoms were frequent among RSV-patients. Bacterial co-infections were common in the study population and mortality was considerable, regardless of known immunosuppression, thus warranting thorough and early investigations in RSV-positive patients.
Keywords: Airway infection; Antimicrobial stewardship; Respiratory syncytial virus; Respiratory virus; Viral infection.
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