[Epidemiology clinical characteristics and risk factors analysis of severe rhinovirus associated pneumonia in children].

<b>Objective:</b> To explore the epidemiological characteristics, clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, and imaging features of children with HRV-associated pneumonia, and to analyze the clinical features and risk factors associated with severe HRV pneumonia, providing references for clinical management. <b>Methods:</b> A single-center, retrospective, observational study was conducted, including 1 001 cases of HRV-positive children with pneumonia admitted to the Respiratory Department of the Affiliated Children's Hospital of Capital Institute of Pediatrics from January 2019 to December 2023. Among them, 584 cases (58.3%) were male and 417 cases (41.7%) were female, with an age range of 0.1 to 14.9 years, a median age of 3.42 years, and a mean age of (3.92±2.75) years. According to clinical guidelines, the cases were divided into a mild pneumonia group (855 cases, 510 males, 345 females) and a severe pneumonia group (146 cases, 73 males, 73 females). Basic information, clinical, laboratory, and imaging data were collected from the electronic medical record system. Comparisons between different age groups, diagnoses, and pneumonia severity groups were performed using the <i>χ²</i> test. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for the severity of HRV pneumonia. <b>Results:</b> Among the 1 001 cases of HRV-associated bronchopneumonia, 146 cases (14.6%) were severe pneumonia. The age of severe HRV pneumonia patients was significantly higher than that of the mild pneumonia group (5.2 years <i>vs.</i> 3.7 years, <i>t</i>=-6.050, <i>P</i><0.01). Severe HRV pneumonia had a higher incidence in autumn and winter (60.9%). Severe HRV pneumonia was associated with higher levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), C-reactive protein (CRP), neutrophils, and creatinine (correlation coefficients 0.198, 0.334, 0.104, 0.142, <i>P</i><0.01), and lower levels of albumin (correlation coefficient 0.308, <i>P</i><0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that co-infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae or Mycoplasma was an independent risk factor for severe HRV pneumonia [<i>OR</i>=1.611, 95% confidence interval (<i>CI</i>):1.066-2.435, <i>P</i><0.05; <i>OR=</i>3.355, 95%<i>CI</i>:2.062-5.458, <i>P</i><0.01]. <b>Conclusion:</b> The infection rate of HRV is higher in preschool and school-age children. Severe HRV pneumonia is associated with increased levels of LDH, CRP, neutrophils, and creatinine, as well as decreased levels of albumin. Co-infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae or Mycoplasma may be an independent risk factor for severe HRV pneumonia. High-risk children require enhanced monitoring and early intervention to improve prognosis.