ABSTRACT
Background
The cost of influenza and other respiratory virus infections should be determined to analyze the real burden of these diseases. We aimed to investigate the clinical outcomes and cost of illness due to respiratory virus infections in hospitalized adult patients.
Methods
Hospitalized patients who had nasal swab sampling for a suspected viral infection between 1 August 2018 to 31 March 2019 were included. Outcome variables were oxygen requirement, mechanical ventilation need, intensive care unit admission and cost.
Results
At least one viral pathogen was detected in 125 (47.7%) of 262 patients who were included in the study. Fifty-five (20.9%) of the patients were infected with influenza. Influenza-positive patients had higher rates for respiratory support, intensive care unit admission and mortality compared to all other patients. The average cost of hospitalization per person was 2,879.76 USD in the influenza-negative group, while the same cost was 3,274.03 USD in the influenza-positive group. Although all of the vaccinated influenza-positive patients needed oxygen support, neither of them required invasive mechanical ventilation or intensive care unit admission. The average hospitalization cost per person was 779.70 USD in the vaccinated group compared to 3,762.01 USD in the unvaccinated group. Disease-related direct cost of influenza in the community was estimated as 22,776,075.61 USD in the 18-65 years of age group and 15,756,120.02 USD in the 65 years of age and over group per year.
Conclusion
Influenza, compared to other respiratory virus infections, can lead to untoward clinical outcomes and mortality as well as higher direct medical costs in adults.
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