Bronchiolitis: Can objective criteria predict eligibility for brief hospitalization?

Objective:To determine if 3 objective criteria – pulse oximetry, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) testing, and age – could be used to predict which children hospitalized with bronchiolitis will have brief (Methods:This was a retrospective medical record review of medically uncomplicated children 3 to 24 months of age with emergency department and hospital discharge diagnoses consistent with bronchiolitis who were admitted to a general pediatric ward in our university-based, tertiary care hospital between Jan. 1, 1992, and Nov. 12, 2002. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess the predictor variables.Results:Our study consisted of 225 patients (45% female) with a median age of 7 months (interquartile range [IQR], 4–11 mo; range, 3–22 mo). Median pulse oximetry value was 94% (IQR 91%–96%; range 76%–100%), and 71% of the patients tested positive for RSV. Thirty children (13%) had brief hospitalizations Conclusions:Pulse oximetry, RSV testing and age do not predict which children will have brief hospitalizations and are appropriate candidates for admission to short-stay observation units.