OBJECTIVES: To measure the burden of respiratory illness (RI) among adults in a multicentric hospital outcome, utilization and cost  study in Argentina (A-HCUPs). METHODS: data of 1 year output of 3 university hospitals, used CCS primary diagnosis (Dx1) (Software-level CCS-SL, 2009 Clinical classification,HCUPs (USA.), (CCS # mean [descriptive term]), total costs (CT $), (mean $) and median cost per discharge ($, 25P-75P-percentiles), in $I (1Arg $ = 1,608 PPP, 2008). Hospital Mortality, 30 day (30 day ReH) re-admissions obtained. RI was defined as #CCS SL: #122: Pneumonia ; 123: Influenza; 124: tonsillitis; 125: bronchitis; 126: Other infections; 127: bronchiectasis, COPD; 128: Asthma; 129: Aspiration Pn.; 130: pleurisy; pneumothorax; Pul. collapse; 131: Respiratory failure; insufficiency; arrest (adult); 132: RIL, external agents; 133: Other inferior RI; 134: Other upper tract RI. RESULTS: