Chronological and clinical characteristics of apnea associated with respiratory syncytial virus infection: a retrospective case series.
OBJECTIVE
Infants with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection are at risk for developing apnea. The authors compared patients with RSV infection who develop apnea with those who do not, to help ambulatory physicians risk stratify their patients with RSV infection.


METHODS
Entry criteria were age less than 1 year, RSV infection, and presentation to the authors' pediatric emergency departments. Random and weighted sampling techniques were used to identify the study group and provide the control sample. Charts were abstracted for 34 clinical variables.


RESULTS
The study group consisted of 42 patients with apnea, and the control group consisted of 198 patients without apnea. Logistic regression analysis identified 2 independent variables associated with apnea: young age and presentation with apnea. Most patients with apnea were less than 2 months of age and were ill for less than 5 days.


CONCLUSIONS
Age and duration of illness may help clinicians determine which previously healthy infants are at risk for apnea.
Arms
Joseph Leo
JL
Division of Emergency Medicine, Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55404, USA. joe.arms@childrensmn.org
Ortega
Henry
H
Reid
Samuel
S
D001049:Apnea / Q000821:virology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000150:complications*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors