Table 1.
Demographic and clinical data of the study population.
| (A) PEDd (n = 1640) |
(B) SSO (n = 314) |
(C) Hospitalized (n = 1247) |
p-Value (Test) | Post Hoc Comparison | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sex, n (%), male | 1019 (62.1) | 191 (60.8) | 715 (57.3) | 0.032 (Chi) | A+, C− |
| Age (months), median (IQR) | 7.40 (5.13) | 7.18 (5.79) | 3.13 (3.68) | <0.001 (K) | A, B > C |
| Age class, n (%): | <0.001 (Chi) | ||||
| ≤3 months | 146 (8.9) | 30 (9.6) | 609 (48.8) | A−, B−, C+ | |
| 3–6 months | 427 (26) | 94 (29.9) | 377 (30.2) | A−, C+ | |
| ≥6 months | 1067 (65.1) | 190 (60.5) | 261 (20.9) | A+, B+, C− | |
| Prematurity, n (%) | 24 (1.5) | 13 (4.1) | 201 (16.1) | <0.001 (Chi) | A−, B−, C+ |
| Other risk factors, n (%) | 28 (1.7) | 15 (4.8) | 258 (20.7) | <0.001 (Chi) | A−, B−, C+ |
| Feeding difficulties, n (%) | 374 (22.8) | 122 (38.9) | 853 (68.4) | <0.001 (Chi) | A−, C+ |
| Days of symptoms, median (IQR) | 3 (4) | 3 (2) | 3 (3) | <0.001 (K) | A, C > B |
| Previous access, n (%) | 128 (7.8) | 46 (14.6) | 405 (32.5) | <0.001 (Chi) | A−, C+ |
| Fever, n (%) | 175 (10.8) | 53 (16.9) | 152 (12.3) | 0.009 (Chi) | A−, B+ |
| RR, mean (SD) | 43.87 ± 10.57 | 50.04 ± 11.62 | 53.55 ± 10.87 | <0.001 (A) | C > B > A |
| SpO2, median (IQR) | 98 (2) | 97 (4) | 97 (3) | <0.001 (K) | A > B > C |
| Clinical severity °, n (%) | <0.001 (F) | ||||
| Mild | 1550 (94.5) | 248 (79) | 719 (57.7) | A+, C− | |
| Moderate | 90 (5.5) | 62 (19.7) | 488 (39.1) | A−, C+ | |
| Severe | 0 | 4 (1.3) | 40 (3.2) | A−, C+ | |
| RSV (n = 1502), n (%) | 85 (51.5) | 70 (67.3) | 812 (65.9) | 0.001 (Chi) | A−, C+ |
| Bronchopneumonia, n (%) | 105 (6.4) | 50 (15.9) | 371 (29.8) | <0.001 (Chi) | A−, C+ |
| Other complications, n (%) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 14 (1.1) | <0.001 (F) | A−, C + |
p-values in bold are statistically significant and refer to any differences between the groups. Significant post hoc comparisons of scale variables are reported with the symbol “>”, which indicates in which group the variable has the highest value. Significant post hoc comparisons of categorical variables are reported with the symbol “−” or with the symbol “+”, which indicate that in the related group observed frequencies were, respectively, lower or higher than those expected by chance according to the Italian guidelines on bronchiolitis [11]. A: one-way ANOVA; Chi: Chi-square test; F: Fisher’s exact test; IQR: interquartile range; K: Kruskal–Wallis test; PEDd: discharged from pediatric emergency department; RR: respiratory rate; RSV: respiratory syncytial virus; SD: standard deviation; SpO2: peripheral oxygen saturation; and SSO: short-stay observation; ° according to the Italian guidelines [11].