BACKGROUND The trends in hospitalization rates and risk factors for severe bronchiolitis have not been recently described, especially after the routine implementation of prophylaxis for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections. OBJECTIVES To define the burden of hospitalizations related to RSV and non-RSV bronchiolitis in a tertiary-care children’s hospital from 2002 to 2007 and to identify the risk factors associated with severe disease. METHODS Medical records of patients hospitalized for bronchiolitis were reviewed for demographic, clinical, microbiologic, and radiologic characteristics as well as the presence of underlying medical conditions. Differences were evaluated between children with RSV and non-RSV bronchiolitis, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent risk factors for severe disease. RESULTS Bronchiolitis hospitalizations in children younger than 2 years old (n =4800) significantly increased from 536 (3.3%) in 2002 to 1241 (5.5%) in 2007, mainly because of RSV infections. Patients with RSV bronchiolitis (n = 2840 [66%]) were younger at hospitalization and had a lower percentage of underlying medical conditions than children hospitalized with non-RSV bronchiolitis (27 vs 37.5%; P < .001). However, disease severity defined by length of hospitalization and requirement of supplemental oxygen, intensive care, and mechanical ventilation was significantly worse in children with RSV bronchiolitis. RSV infection and prematurity, regardless of the etiology, were identified as independent risk factors for severe bronchiolitis. CONCLUSIONS There was a significant increase in hospitalizations for RSV bronchiolitis from 2002 to 2007. A majority of the children with RSV bronchiolitis were previously healthy, but their disease severity was worse compared with those hospitalized with non-RSV bronchiolitis.

Goals To examine ethnicity's role in the etiology and outcome of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage (UGIH). Background UGIH is a serious condition with considerable associated morbidity and mortality. Study We analyzed 2196 patients admitted with acute UGIH between January 2006 and February 2012. Complete clinical data was gathered prospectively and entered into our GI Bleed Registry, which captures demographic and clinical variables. Results were analyzed using the Chi-square analyses and the analysis of variance techniques with Tukey multiple comparisons. Results Among 2196 patients, 620 (28%) were Black, 625 (29%) White, 881 (40%) Hispanic, and 70 (3%) were members of other ethnicities. Gastroduodenal ulcers (25%), esophageal varices (25%), and esophagitis (12%) were the most frequently identified causes of UGIH. Blacks experienced a high rate of gastroduodenal ulcers (199/620), while Hispanics most commonly had esophageal varices. In all ethnicities, the most common cause of bleeding in patients younger than 35 or older than 65 was gastroduodenal ulcer disease. However, among patients aged 35-64, there were differences in the etiology of UGIH. Blacks aged 50-64 frequently experienced gastroduodenal ulcers, while Hispanics aged 35-49 typically had esophageal varices. Rebleeding rates were significantly lower in Whites (5.8%) than in Hispanics (9.9%) or Blacks (8.7%) (p=0.02). Conclusions By examining a diverse population, we conclude that UGIH may follow trends. Hispanics were likely to have esophageal varices and higher rebleeding rates, while Blacks were likely to have ulcers and the highest mortality. Whites were equally likely to have ulcers or varices, but a lower rate of rebleeding.

We have described a unique clinical syndrome in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding who have erosive esophagitis. This syndrome is manifest by typical clinical features and is associated with favorable outcomes.

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