Background: Cohort studies conducted in the 1970's found a 30% mortality rate amongst patients with CHD who developed RSV LRIs, but studies in the 1990's suggested rates were only 3%. Objective: To determine if worse outcomes (length of hospitalization, ICU, ventilatory support) occurred in children with greater underlying CHD severity. Methods: Outcomes were determined prospectively in 127 children with CHD and RSV LRI hospitalized in either 1993/94 (7 Canadian tertiary care pediatric hospitals) and 1994/95 (9 hospitals). Patients with and without pulmonary hypertension(HBP), and with and without left to right (L to R) shunt were compared using chi square analysis for proportions and Mood's median test for duration of stay and ventilation because these did not follow a normal distribution. Results: There was no significant difference in RSV associated length of hospital stay, but ICU stay was prolonged in those with pulmonary HBP (8 days) vs. without (5 days) (p=0.03). Similarly those with pulmonary HBP were mechanically ventilated more frequently. Conclusion: Differences in morbidity with varying underlying disease severity appear reduced compared to previous experience. However, greater support is still required by those with pulmonary HBP. Funded by Lederle Praxis Inc.Table

Table 1