Health-care resource use and cost one year after hospitalisation among patients admitted with viral lower respiratory tract disease by viral aetiology: A descriptive US claims analysis

<bold>Background:</bold> The long-term impact of severe viral lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) can be substantial, but whether this differs by virus family is unknown. <bold>Aims:</bold> To describe long-term health-care resource use (HCRU) and related costs by viral aetiology in US adults hospitalised with viral LRTD who survived one year after hospitalisation. <bold>Methods:</bold> HCRU and costs in those hospitalised with viral LRTD during 2022 were analysed using Optum’s de-identified Clinformatics^® Data Mart database one year after hospitalisation versus the prior year. <bold>Results:</bold> HCRU and HCRU-related costs went up similarly for coronavirus as for other viral aetiologies. Average number of total visits per patient in the year after initial hospitalisation: coronavirus (66), influenza (63), respiratory syncytial virus (66), metapneumovirus (68), and multi-viral aetiology (68). Respective mean costs per year: $46,380, $43,016, $51,349, $53,555, and $51,189 per patient. The number of total visits per patient increased by 24-48% compared with the prior year and costs per patient increased by 25-67% (both were highest for multi-viral aetiology) (Figure). <bold>Conclusions:</bold> Among those hospitalised for viral LRTD, HCRU and costs substantially increased in the one year after hospitalisation compared with the year before irrespective of viral aetiology. <fig><object-id>erj;64/suppl_68/PA3291/F1</object-id><object-id>F1</object-id><object-id>F1</object-id><graphic></graphic></fig>