Correlation of respiratory syncytial virus with risk factors related to recurrent wheezing in hospitalized infants.

Background: The respiratory diseases represent an important cause of morbidity and mortality in the pediatric age group, considered a public health problem and generate a great economic impact given the frequent use of the health system. The current study aims to verify the correlation of respiratory syncytial virus with the main risk factors associated with recurrent wheezing in hospitalized infants. Methods: Cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study, carried out from May 2019 to May 2021, through the analysis of 681 electronic medical records in a secondary public hospital. The study included 105 infants aged less than 24 months, hospitalized for recurrent wheezing. The variables analyzed were subdivided into two groups according to the presence of the etiological agent: positive or negative for RSV. Results: Of the sample studied, 75.2% were RSV negative, with a predominance of males and an average age of 13 months. With respect to the risk factors analyzed, there was a higher incidence of prematurity (19.2%), heart disease (11.5%), family history of asthma (61.5%), and use of prophylaxis (73%) among those positive for RSV. Among positive for RSV, we observed greater use of mechanical ventilation (80%) and need for readmissions (65.4%), and a positive correlation was observed between the etiological agent and prematurity (p=0.009*), heart disease (p=0.026*), readmission (p=0.009*), and the use of mechanical pulmonary ventilation (p=0.007*). Conclusion: Faced with this prevalent public health pathology, there is a need to improve clinical care, with qualification and standardization of conduct by general pediatricians.