LAUSR

Objective SENTINEL1 characterized U.S. preterm infants 29 to 35 weeks' gestational age (wGA) < 12 months old hospitalized for laboratory‐confirmed respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease and not receiving RSV immunoprophylaxis during the 2014 to 2015 RSV season. Study Design This is a noninterventional, observational, cohort study. Results A total of 702 infants were hospitalized with community‐acquired RSV disease, of whom an estimated 42% were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and 20% required invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). Earlier gestational age and younger chronologic age were associated with an increased frequency of RSV‐confirmed hospitalization (RSVH), ICU admission, and IMV. Among infants 29 to 32 wGA and < 3 months of age, 68% required ICU admission and 44% required IMV. One death occurred of an infant 29 wGA. Among the 212 infants enrolled for in‐depth analysis of health care resource utilization, mean and median RSVH charges were $55,551 and $27,461, respectively, which varied by intensity of care required. Outpatient visits were common, with 63% and 62% of infants requiring visits before and within 1 month following the RSVH, respectively. Conclusion Preterm infants 29 to 35 wGA are at high risk for severe RSV disease, which imposes a substantial health burden, particularly in the first months of life.