Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection in Homeless Populations, Washington, USA

Abstract

Homelessness has not previously been identified as a risk factor for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. We conducted an observational study at an urban safety-net hospital in Washington, USA, during 2012-2017. Hospitalized adults with RSV were more likely to be homeless, and several clinical outcome measures were worse with RSV than with influenza.

Keywords: COPD; RSV; United States; Washington; asthma; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; drug use; homeless persons; homeless populations; homelessness; infection; influenza; influenza virus; respiratory infection; respiratory syncytial virus; viruses.

Figure 1

Detection of influenza and RSV in adults hospitalized at Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA, July 2012–June 2017. White bars below the x-axis indicate RSV seasons; asterisks indicate weeks when cases of RSV infection peaked, on the basis of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention surveillance data in region 10 (Alaska, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon) (7,8) during 2012–2017. RSV, respiratory syncytial virus.

Figure 2

Sociodemographic characteristics of patients hospitalized with RSV infection or influenza across 5 seasons, 2012–2017, Washington, USA. A) Age; B) homelessness; C) drug use; and D) COPD or asthma. Size of each circle indicates number of patients for that data point: small circles indicate <50 patients, medium circles indicate 50–150 patients, and large circles indicate >150 patients. COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; RSV, respiratory syncytial virus.