S1560 Is Respiratory Syncytial Virus Associated With Worse Outcome in Ulcerative Colitis Patients? Nationwide Inpatient Sample

Introduction: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common, contagious virus that primarily affects the respiratory system and has been linked to adverse outcomes in individuals with chronic diseases. This study investigates whether RSV infection is associated with worse outcomes in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), including mortality, colectomy rates, and healthcare utilization. Methods: Data from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) were analyzed to identify patients with RSV, inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), and colectomy procedures using International Classification of Diseases-10 codes. Patients were categorized by RSV status. Comparative analyses were conducted using t-tests and chi-square tests. Logistic regression assessed binary outcomes, including mortality and colectomy rates, while linear regression analyzed continuous outcomes such as length of stay (LOS) and total hospital charges. Survey weights accounted for the NIS's complex sampling design. Results: Among 512,965 UC patients, 600 (0.1%) were RSV-positive, with a mean age of 64 years; 58.3% were women. RSV was significantly associated with increased mortality (Odds Ratio [OR]: 2.2, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.1–4.7, P = 0.03) and longer hospital stays (β: +2.8 days, 95% CI: 0.91–4.6, P = 0.003). Interestingly, RSV was associated with a decreased likelihood of colectomy (OR: 0.036, 95% CI: 0.15–0.87, P = 0.024). Total hospital charges were not significantly affected by RSV. Conclusion: RSV infection was associated with increased mortality and prolonged hospital stays in UC patients, underscoring the need for preventive measures, such as vaccination, in this vulnerable population. The unexpected association between RSV and reduced colectomy rates warrants further investigation to understand potential clinical or biological mechanisms. These findings highlight the importance of developing RSV vaccination strategies tailored to UC patients, including determining the optimal age and risk factors for immunization.