Among adult patients with severe acute respiratory infections (SARI), the use of electronic vital records increased SARI-associated mortality estimates by 30%, a recent study found. The study generated mortality estimates among SARI patients from 2 sentinel hospitals in southern Arizona that included deaths occurring shortly after hospital discharge and identified risk factors for mortality. Researchers found:

• Among 258 SARI patients (median age 63 years), 80% had ≥1 pre-existing health condition and 9% died in hospital.
• Mortality increased to 12% when electronic viral records and 30-day post-hospitalization time frame were used.
• Factors independently associated with mortality included being aged ≥65 years (OR, 4.0) and having an intensive care unit admission (OR, 7.4).