Acute respiratory infections exhibit different death rates in patients, influenced by individual and collective aspects. A retrospective study scrutinized the frequency of infection, clinical attributes, and lethality-associated factors in patients suffering from different ARI pathogens during their hospital stay. The study focused on particular viruses found in patients aged 18 or above at a tertiary care facility in Germany. Analysis revealed that the death rate was noticeably related to the patient’s age.
Patients affected by ARI pathogens other than SARS-CoV-2 or human Metapneumovirus (hMPV) showed an increased death risk compared to those infected by Influenza. The elevated risk was present among Adenovirus (OR = 5.99, p = 0.049), Coronavirus (OR = 2.22), and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) (OR = 2.18), with a specific analysis showing increased lethality rates for Adenovirus, Coronavirus, and RSV in comparison with Influenza.
The study also noted RSV as a significant threat for hospitalized adults. The lethality rate varied among the eight ARI pathogens studied, with age also proving a considerable risk factor for in-hospital death due to ARI. Medical professionals of all age brackets are at risk of ARI, with outcomes ranging from mild symptoms to more serious, even fatal, outcomes. The lethality rate is influenced by aspects such as age and pre-existing medical conditions, which could significantly alter the disease’s trajectory.
Patients who are hospitalized, particularly the elderly or those with pre-existing conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), are notably vulnerable to severe consequences. Acute Respiratory Infections are leading causes of hospitalization in people with weakened immune systems. SARS-Cov-2 has become the most common respiratory pathogen in hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to evaluate factors affecting the death rate in adult individuals afflicted with ARI pathogens in a post-pandemic hospital setting during the endemic transition, to help assess effective preventive measures.
Source: https://bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12879-025-11521-1