C-reactive protein is associated with severity in hospitalized children
with Respiratory Syncytial Virus bronchiolitis
Abstract
Objective: Acute bronchiolitis, primarily caused by Respiratory
syncytial virus (RSV), is the most common cause of hospitalization in
young children. Despite international guidelines supporting clinical
diagnosis, laboratory evaluations are often conducted with limited
validity. We aim to evaluate the association between C-reactive protein
(CRP) levels at admission and disease severity in children hospitalized
due to RSV bronchiolitis. Study design: This single center
retrospective cohort study included children (0-24 months old) who were
hospitalized due to RSV bronchiolitis (January 2018 – March 2022) with
CRP levels taken upon admission. Clinical data and severity parameters
were extracted using MD-clone platform and the clinical research unit at
SUMC. Results: 1,874 children (mean age of 6.7 months, 59%
males) with a median CRP level of 1.92mg/dL were included. Children with
elevated CRP (>1.92mg/dL) were significantly older (5.1 vs.
3.8 months, p<0.001), had higher rates of pneumonia
(9.4% vs. 4.3%, p<0.001 ), urinary tract
infection (UTI), (2.2% vs. 0.2%, p<0.001), acute
otitis media (AOM), (1.7% vs 0.2%, p<0.001),
admissions to pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) (7.4% vs 3.7%,
p<0.001), antibiotic treatment (49.8% vs 37.2%,
p<0.001) and longer hospitalizations (3.83 vs 3.31
days, p=0.001). Multivariable analysis predicted increased risk
for UTI, PICU admission, pneumonia, and longer hospitalization (relative
risk of 11.6, 2.25, 1.98, 1.44, respectively,
p<0.001)). CRP thresholds of 3.51, 1.9, and 2.81 mg/dL
for PICU admission, UTI, and pneumonia, were calculated using Youden’s
index with AUC of 0.72, 0.62, and 0.61, respectively.
Conclusions: Elevated CRP levels at admission are associated
with increased disease severity and higher complication rates in
children hospitalized with RSV bronchiolitis.