Characteristics of severe acute respiratory infection associated hospitalization in Yemen, 2014/15

This study aims to describe etiological agents, demographic details of patients, seasonality and underlying conditions among patients hospitalized due to viral severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) in Yemen. We carried out a retrospective descriptive analysis of data from January 2014 to December 2015. Nasopharyngeal swabs were taken from each patient for laboratory testing. A total of 1346 diagnostic specimens were tested, of which 733 (54%) were positive for influenza viruses. Influenza A(H3) and A(H1N1) pdm09 predominated. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was reported predominantly among children (41%). Males (61%) were more affected than females. The median age was 1 year (range 0.5–94.0). The median length of hospitalization was 6 days. Chronic cardiovascular disease was the most commonly reported underlying condition, but 67% had no documented underlying disease. Respiratory viruses, particularly RSV, adenovirus and influenza, were commonly associated with hospitalization for SARI.