Nutrition and clinical course of acute lower respiratory tract infection in hospitalized Chilean infants with respiratory syncytial virus.

Respiratory syncycial virus (RSV) is the first cause Of acute lower respira tory tract infection in Chilean infants. A significant impact of nutrition on clinical course of these infections has been described. In order to anal yze the association between nutritional status (NS) and clinical course of infants hospitalized with acute lower respiratory tract infection due to RS V, 130 infants (mean age 5,8+/-4,9 m) without chronic diseases, admitted to hospital with confirmed RSV infection, were studied. Clinical course of di sease was assessed (hospitalization days and days with oxygen therapy) acco rding to nutritional status on admission (weight/length (W/L), ratio, arm m uscle area, lymphocyte count and albumin), antropometrics changes, and hosp ital dietary intake. On admission prevalence of malnutrition by W/L (z scor e) was 1%, 14% overweight and 8% were obese. Median value of hospitalizatio n days was 5 d (2-29 d) and days receiving oxygen was 3 d (0-19 d). Longer admission were observed in fasted patients than in those who were fed every day (Wilcoxon and Log-rank test, 8 d vs 5 d; P<0.01). Obese children (Wilco xon and Log-rank test, 5 d vs. 3 d in normal patients; P<0.05), and patient s not fed enterally (Wilcoxon and Log-rank test, 7 d vs. 3 d; P<0.01) requi red oxygen for longer time. Fasting and severity of illness (Tal score) wer e correlated variables (X-2 0.001). The multivariate analysis showed an ass ociation of Tal score and NS on admission, with days receiving oxygen thera py. We conclude that obesity is a risk factor for worse clinical course of acute lower respiratory tract infection in Chilean infants with RSV infecti on and without chronic disease.