Abstract Background Limited data have described the testing patterns and outcomes of adults (≥18 years) with acute respiratory illness (ARI) in the emergency department (ED) setting. Methods This prospective cohort study includes ARI patients from the CDC-sponsored Respiratory Virus Laboratory Emergency Department Network Surveillance (RESP-LENS) program from August 2021 until March 2024 (n=91 hospitals). Patients with ARIs were identified weekly by electronic surveillance for one or more of 130 ICD-10 codes that defined ARI. Patients were followed for 30 days for the primary outcomes of hospitalization and mortality. Testing for RSV with nasopharyngeal swabbing followed by was done as part of usual care. Risk of 30-day mortality RSV positivity was tested in a generalized estimating equation (GEE). Findings From 1,210,394 patients with ARI, 345,185 (28.5%) adults underwent RSV testing, which was positive in 2.4%. In RSV+ adults the overall mortality rate was 1.9% compared with a mortality rate of 2.9% in RSV- adults. Mortality with RSV+ increased with age ≥65 years: 3.8% (95% CI: 3.1 to 4.5%). However, in the GEE, RSV+ status was not associated with higher rate of hospitalization (adjusted Odds 0.79, 0.75-0.84), or 30-day mortality (odds 0.62, 0.53-0.74) relative to those who were RSV-. Age ≥65 years, incremental worsening of vital signs, male sex and heart failure were independently associated with death. Conclusion Among adults with ARI presenting to an ED and who were tested for RSV as part of their usual care, laboratory-confirmed RSV positivity was not associated with increased risk, including hospitalization, ICU requirement, or death.
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