Abstract
Aim: RSV lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) are associated with increased healthcare utilisation and cost of care in both term and prematurely born infants. Rhinovirus (RV) LRTI has been associated with increased respiratory morbidity at follow-up in term born infants. Our aim was to determine whether RV LRTIs were associated with increased health related cost of care in prematurely born infants and to compare any effect with that of RSV LRTIs.
Methods: 130 infants born <36 weeks GA were prospectively followed from birth until one year. A nasopharyngeal aspirate (NPA) was taken every time the infants had a LRTI either in hospital or in the community. NPAs were tested for RV, RSV A and B, human metapneumovirus, parainfluenza 1-3, influenza A and B and adenovirus. Healthcare utilisation was determined by examining hospital and GP records and the cost of care calculated from the NHS reference costing scheme and British National Formulary for Children.
Results: 16 infants developed RV LRTIs (RV group), 14 infants developed RSV LRTIs (RSV group), eight infants developed both RSV and RV LRTI (“RSV and RV” group); 68 infants had no LRTI (no LRTI group). Compared to the no LRTI group, the RV group had higher costs for GP attendances (p<0.01) and medications (p<0.01) and the RSV group had higher hospital admission costs (p<0.05). The “RSV and RV” group had more PICU days than the other three groups (p<0.05) and greater hospital admission costs than the no LRTI (p<0.01) and the RV group (p<0.05).
Conclusion: RV LRTIs were associated with increased health related costs of care, but these were greater for RSV LRTIs and, in particular, dual infections with RSV and RV.
- © 2011 ERS