AUTHOR=Bozzola Elena , Ciarlitto Claudia , Guolo Stefano , Brusco Carla , Cerone Gennaro , Antilici Livia , Schettini Livia , Piscitelli Anna Lucia , Chiara Vittucci Anna , Cutrera Renato , Raponi Massimiliano , Villani Alberto
TITLE=Respiratory Syncytial Virus Bronchiolitis in Infancy: The Acute Hospitalization Cost
JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pediatrics
VOLUME=8
YEAR=2021
URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pediatrics/articles/10.3389/fped.2020.594898
DOI=10.3389/fped.2020.594898
ISSN=2296-2360
ABSTRACT=Introduction: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis is among the leading causes of hospitalization in infants. Prophylaxis with palivizumab may reduce RSV infection, but its prescription is restricted to high-risk groups. The aim of the study is to retrospectively determine acute hospitalization costs of bronchiolitis.
Materials and methods: Infants aged 1 month−1 year, admitted to Bambino Gesù Children Hospital, Rome, Italy, with a diagnosis of bronchiolitis from January 1 till December 31, 2017, were included in the study.
Results: A total of 531 patients were enrolled in the study, and the mean age was 78.75 days. The main etiologic agent causing bronchiolitis was RSV, accounting for 58.38% of infections. The total cost of bronchiolitis hospitalization was 2,958,786 euros. The mean cost per patient was significantly higher in the case of RSV (5,753.43 ± 2,041.62 euros) compared to other etiology (5,395.15 ± 2,040.87 euros) (p = 0.04).
Discussion: The study confirms the high hospitalization cost associated with bronchiolitis. In detail, in the case of RSV etiology, the cost was higher compared to other etiology, which is likely due to the longer hospitalization and the more frequent admission to the intensive cure department.
Conclusion: This study highlights that bronchiolitis is an important cost item even in a tertiary hospital and that cost-effective interventions targeting RSV are increasingly urgent.