Risk factors for mechanical ventilation in respiratory syncytial virus infection

In a prospective study, risk factors for mechanical ventilation were identified in 102 patients with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection admitted to the Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam. Age, weight on admission and prematurity were associated with the need for mechanical ventilation. Using multivariate analysis, only low weight was an independent risk factor for mechanical ventilation. For infants weighing less than 5 kg the relative risk for mechanical ventilation was 4.4 (95% confidential interval 1.3-13.9).